Police Commissioner Andrew Coster says New Zealand's style of policing, whcih does not involve general arming, is what makes officers on the ground safer.
It comes after calls for adding more firepower to the frontline after a spate of high-profile firearms incidents and the trial of an officer who killed an officer.
Eli Epiha had already pleaded guilty to the murder of Constable Matthew Hunt last year, and was found guilty of the attempted murder of Hunt's partner, Eli Goldfinch, on Thursday.
Coster told Morning Report it's tempting to reach for a simple solution to the issue of violence against police, but arming was not one.
He said the way New Zealand police interacted with the community does make them safer though.
"There's no jurisdiction you would point to go they're so much safer than us because they carry firearms.
"We have a very unique style of policing in New Zealand which sees us enjoy good relationships with the community and it adds to our safety overall.
"Whilst you can point to individual instances where having a firearm might make a difference, actually in the round we are safe because of the way we police."
