Routine Carriage of Firearms – Canterbury Police – 27 February to 3 March 2019
Precipitating incidents
At about 12:45am on Saturday 23 February 2019, Tolu MA'ANAIAMA was driving his
black Holden Executive motor vehicle with two associates, including Treik ALLEN, who
was in the right rear passenger seat. The vehicle was observed by a passing Police patrol
and signalled to stop on Anzac Drive, Christchurch. MA'ANAIAMA failed to stop and a
pursuit was initiated.
Moments after initiating the pursuit the Police unit observed what they believed to be
three shots being fired from the Holden vehicle in their direction.
The Police unit continued to pursue the Holden vehicle, during which time it travelled at
speeds in excess of 140kph.
On Dyers Road the pursuing Police unit once again observed the discharge of a firearm in
the general direction of their vehicle. Due to the excessive speed and manner of driving the
officers abandoned the pursuit and stopped on Dyers Road.
Not long after the pursuit was abandoned a second Police unit was stationary on Garlands
Road. The second Police unit observed a Holden vehicle matching the description of the
vehicle involved in the pursuit turn onto Garlands Road travel towards them. As the Holden
vehicle passed the second Police unit the officers described hearing a single loud “popping”
sound which led them to believe a further shot had been fired at their vehicle.
The second police unit completed a U-turn to pursue the offending vehicle. The Holden
vehicle was seen to continue on Garlands Road before turning left onto Opawa Road. The
vehicle was not seen again that evening.
At about 7:20pm on Tuesday 26 February 2019, MA'ANAIAMA was sitting in his black
Holden which was parked on Breezes Road, Christchurch. He had a loaded 12 gauge
pump-action shotgun with him in the vehicle. There were no other occupants.
Officer A was driving a marked Police patrol car on Breezes Road. MA'ANAIAMA saw
Officer A’s Police vehicle and laid down in an attempt to hide from him. Officer A identified
the Holden vehicle and approached it. As Officer A reached the vehicle MA'ANAIAMA sat
up in the driver’s seat and drove away at speed. Officer A drove behind the vehicle and
signalled for him to stop by activating his patrol car’s red and blue flashing lights and
siren. The vehicle failed to stop and was pursued by Officer A.
Officer E had laid a tyre deflation device on QEII Drive near the intersection with
Marshland Road. As the vehicle approached the intersection with Marshland Road
MA'ANAIAMA swerved onto the footpath in an attempt to strike Officer E with his vehicle.
The vehicle narrowly missed Officer E but drove over the tyre deflation device.
As MA'ANAIAMA proceed onto North Parade he held the shotgun out of the window for
the pursuing police officers to see. He returned the shotgun to the vehicle and turned left
onto North Avon Road and then immediately turned right onto Eveleyn Couzins Avenue.
During this turn the front right tyre came off the vehicle.
MA'ANAIAMA continued to drive slowly down Eveleyn Couzins Avenue, pointing the
shotgun out the window at Officer A, who was still in pursuit. Also involved in the pursuit
were officers B, C and D.
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MA'ANAIAMA brought his black Holden to a stop adjacent to Avebury Park. Seconds later
Officers A, B, C and D stopped their patrol vehicles approximately 25 metres behind the
Holden. All officers exited their patrol vehicles.
MA'ANAIAMA exited his vehicle with the shotgun and ran a short distance away before
returning and using the vehicle as cover. He took up a firing position at the front of his
vehicle, stepped out of cover, aimed the shotgun at the officers and fired at them. He
moved back into cover behind his vehicle and reloaded the shotgun. He stood up again
and fired at the officers. A shotgun pellet has hit Officer A’s patrol car and the waddings
from both shots landed just in front of Officer A’s patrol vehicle. Further shotgun pellets
were located down the length of Eveleyn Couzins Avenue.
While MA'ANAIAMA was shooting at police they shot back at him. During the
confrontation he was shot and incapacitated. Once incapacitated he was arrested and
subsequently given first-aid by the attending police officers.
Routine carriage of firearms
After this incident, District Commander John Price was briefed by telephone and
approved routine carriage of firearms for the Canterbury District until 8.30am on 27 March
2019.
The decision to authorise routine carriage of firearms is guided by the Police firearms
policy1. Superintendent Price considered three key components: the New Zealand Police
Tactical Options Framework2; the Health & Safety at Work Act 2015 and Health and
Safety at Work (General Risk and Workplace Management) Regulations 2016; and the
New Zealand Police Our Business3.
Following the New Zealand Police Tactical Options Framework, Superintendent Price
carried out a perceived cumulative assessment using the TENR model. The TENR
model4 is the Police operational threat assessment methodology, a decision-making
process that supports the timely and accurate assessment of information directly relevant
to the safety of Police and others. The TENR process involves considering four key
elements: threat, exposure, necessity, and response.
As a PCBU (person conducting a business or undertaking) under the Health & Safety at
Work Act 2015, Superintendent Price also considered his duty to identify hazards, and
minimise risks to health and safety by implementing, maintaining and reviewing control
measures (sections 5 to 8 of Health and Safety at Work (General Risk and Workplace
Management) Regulations 2016).
Superintendent Price also considered the New Zealand Police Our Business, and his duty
to ensure his staff are equipped and enabled to prevent crime and victimisation and
apprehend offenders. The primary intent of routine carriage of firearms is the safety of all,
upholding the New Zealand Police purpose of “Be Safe, Feel Safe” which is inclusive of
Police staff and the community.
In this case Police believed that an outstanding offender or offenders had shot at Police
on two separate occasions on 23 February, followed by an associate shooting at Police
1 Document “Police firearms”
2 Document “Tactical Options Framework”
3 Document “Our Business 2018‐19”
4 Document “TENR”
Te Wai Pounamu Information Request Team
Service Delivery
Phone: 105 ext. 36624 or 36457
Email: [email address]
on 26 February. This behaviour indicated the offender was armed and a danger to Police
staff and the community. Due to the high likelihood of grievous bodily harm or death and
the need for high degree of force the order for routine carriage of firearms for a specified
period was given by Superintendent Price.
At 12.24am on Wednesday 27 February, an email5 was sent from the District Command
Centre to all staff advising that routine carriage of firearms had been approved until
8.30am that morning.
A daily briefing was held by Superintendent Price at 8.00am at the Christchurch Central
Police station for the period from 27 February until 1 March 2019. Briefings were not held
on 2 and 3 March 2019 as it was the weekend. The briefings were attended by senior
managers, including Prevention Manager Inspector Ashley Tabb and OC CIB
Superintendent Corrie Parnell. Prevention Manager Inspector Ashley Tabb took notes6
during the briefings. As the decision maker and briefing lead, Superintendent Price did
not take notes.
During the briefings Superintendent Price carried out a reassessment of the situation by
considering information regarding the offender, investigation and operational
considerations from the investigation head, Christchurch Metro Area Commander, Metro
Response Manager, OC CIB, Prevention Manager, and AOS Commander. As OC CIB,
Superintendent Parnell provided information during the briefings relating to the
outstanding offender, Treik ALLEN. This engagement process ensured a robust and
rigorous approach to decision-making. As the offender remained at large during this time
Superintendent Price determined that routine carriage of firearms was still required.
Superintendent Price’s decisions regarding the continuation of routine carriage of firearms
during this period were communicated to staff via email7 by the District Command Centre
and/or Intel staff.
At 2.15pm on 3 March 2019, Treik ALLEN was arrested by Police and his firearm was
recovered. At this time the risk to Police staff and the community was minimised to the
extent that a response of routine carriage of firearms was no longer required.
At 5.30pm, an email8 was sent via the District Command Centre to all Canterbury Police
staff advising that at the District Commander’s instruction routine carriage of firearms had
been lifted as of 5.15pm.
Outcome of charges
Treik ALLEN has been convicted and sentenced for Using a Firearm to Prevent Arrest on
23 February 2019.
Tolu MA'ANAIAMA has been convicted and sentenced for Aggravated Failing to Stop on
23 February 2019, and Using a Firearm against Law Enforcement Officer, Unlawful
Possession of a Firearm, and Aggravated Failing to Stop on 26 February 2019.
5 Document “Emails_Redacted”, p. 1
6 Document “Notebook Entries_Redacted”
7 Document “Emails_Redacted”, pp. 3‐16
8 Document “Emails_Redacted”, p. 18
Te Wai Pounamu Information Request Team
Service Delivery
Phone: 105 ext. 36624 or 36457
Email: [email address]
