The police commissioner has warned that armed police could be patrolling New Zealand's streets if tasers are not approved to deal with violent criminals.
Last year 2,000 police were assaulted - an increase of 12% on the previous year.
To combat violent offenders police are trialling the 50,000 volt taser stun gun.
Police insist that the year-long trial is not a foregone conclusion, and it is not a choice between guns or tasers.
But Police Commissioner Howard Broad says if tasers are not approved, they may be left with no choice.
"If we're not successful in this, there are strong forces at play here that would want us to move toward a fully armed police service. Now I want to counsel against moving in that direction while there are other options available," he says.
However, critics have slammed Broad's comments saying that they are inappropriate during the supposedly impartial assessment of tasers.
"If the police commissioner suggests if the police don't get tasers the public are going to end up with more guns, then that can...easily be seen as a form of threat to the public," says taser critic Marie Dyhrberg.
And while the public jury is still out on tasers, there is no doubt about guns. Opinion polls in recent years suggest up to 70% of New Zealanders oppose arming all police officers.
The taser trial is due to end mid 2007.
