Taser debate reignited by shooting 

There are calls for all police officers to be armed with tasers, after police fatally shot a man in Christchurch.

A senior officer fired several shots at Stephen Jon Bellingham, 37, after he reportedly charged the police with a claw hammer.

The policeman involved did not have a taser.

Canterbury's top police officer Sandra Manderson admits a taser would have been a good option to have, as the police officer involved had no option but to use his glock pistol.

New Zealand First law and order campaigner Ron Mark says tasers are an effective tool that keep police safe, and also prevent offenders from being shot.

He says the introduction of tasers needs to happen as soon as practicable.

The Police Association says the incident is proof all officers need to be armed with the stun guns.

But barrister and anti-taser campaigner Marie Dyhrberg says there would be consequences from not having strict guidelines on the taser.

She says it could be used to make people comply with police rather than for containing someone threatening violence.

Dyhrberg says there needs to be better consultation about when to use them.

A report on the effectiveness of tasers is due out in December.

Witnesses

There are conflicting reports of what happened directly before the shooting.

Eighteen-year old Chris Young told ONE News Bellingham charged the officer with a hammer raised above his head.

Other witnesses have said Bellingham had his hands at his sides when he was shot.

The Police Association says it is quite normal for there to be conflicting accounts of an incident like Wednesday night's fatal shooting.

President Greg O'Connor says the full story will not be clear until everyone who was there is interviewed and detectives compare what they saw.

O'Connor is in Christchurch supporting the officers who were involved.

"As with all such incidents, this shooting will now be the subject of extensive investigation by Police, by the PCA, and by the coroner. Yes, those investigations will take time. But until they are complete, none of us is in a position to criticise the judgment call, that the officer involved, was forced to make," O'Connor said.