Front line police officers have been carrying guns on average once a week over recent months.
In the ten months to January this year police have issued 47 temporary arming orders where staff across entire districts have guns on their hips rather than in the boot of a car.
The longest order lasted six days in the Far North.
Martin Kaipo is a former Black Power leader and now runs a community organisation in Whangarei.
He told reporter Jordan Bond the police are responding to the escalating methamphetamine violence in Northland but he worries where it's all heading.
