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Family and friends of the man shot in the chest by police in Auckland want to know why a Taser was not used.
Actor Rob Mokaraka was shot in the chest by police after a stand-off which ONE News has learned lasted just seven minutes.
Police say he was armed with knives and a meat cleaver.
Mokaraka is in a stable condition under police guard in Auckland Hospital. His family has been at his bedside.
"He was all tense and very sad, very tearful, but very happy to see us," says Rob Mokaraka's father Anthony Mokaraka.
A friend and colleague, Pita Turei, says he is deeply disturbed the police shot Mokaraka.
"To argue that they felt threatened by a man coming out of his own home with a tea towel and some cutlery and that justifies shooting him with an assault rifle in the chest to kill him has to be unacceptable," he says.
But back at the scene a different picture of events is emerging.
A neighbour and friend of Mokaraka says he has been under a lot of stress recently.
The neighbour was with him at the time of the shooting and describes the conduct of police as fair and reasonable throughout the entire incident.
The Police Association says a Taser would have been a useful option, although it may not have changed the outcome.
"It's another option, another part of your tool kit that we think officers should have available to them," says the Association's Chris Cahill.
Just three weeks ago Hamilton Police negotiated with a man for several hours. He immediately surrendered when a Taser was flown in from Auckland.
In this case it was still on the way.
Police continued their scene examination on Tuesday and will not say if charges will be laid against Mokaraka.
Mokaraka, of Ngapuhi/Tuhoe descent, is a veteran actor who has had roles in films, television and theatre productions since he studied at Northland Polytechnic in Whangarei.
His CV shows he appeared in two police training videos playing the part of a police officer about eight years ago, NewstalkZB reports.
Mokaraka last year toured with a play about a Maori Battalion soldier in Italy.
Mokaraka won The Chapman Tripp Theatre award for Best Male Newcomer for his role in the play Have Car, Will Travel in 2001.
His TV credits include stints on Love Bites, Questions, and Mataku.
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