Waipareira Trust head, John Tamihere has warned Maori, if offenders use a gun during a crime they deserve to get shot.
The comments were made at a Police and Maori conference at Ngaruawahia, south of Auckland.
Mr Tamihere, who is standing for Labour in the Auckland region’s Maori Hauraki Electorate, told police managers that
they are right to shoot offenders brandishing firearms.
Earlier this month, Edwin Leo was killed after a police car case. Leo pulled out a replica handgun after entering into a
stand off with police in west Auckland. He was shot in the limbs before a bullet caused a fatal wound to his chest.
A police complaints authority investigation revealed Leo had been warned to put his gun down. He refused and threatened
police with it. He was then shot.
Mr Tamihere says Maori who choose to carry guns, or hurt police officers, deserve to be shot. However, police, he said,
need to use their powers with integrity.