Police were justified in shooting a man dead after he threatened officers with a machete, the the Independent Police Conduct Authority says.
Police were called to a rural property in Paeroa in June last year after a woman reported her partner, Michael Taylor, had thrown a mug of coffee at her neck during an argument.
When the police arrived they found Mr Taylor standing in a paddock holding a machete in one hand and a sickle in the other.
He moved towards the car, threw one of the weapons at it and then moved to strike the front passenger window with the other weapon.
Police fired four shots, fatally wounding him.
Judge Colin Doherty said the officer was justified in firing, because it was reasonable to believe Taylor was about to kill or seriously injure him.
Waikato District Commander Superintendent Bruce Bird said the event had been traumatic for everyone involved and extended his deepest sympathies to Mr Taylor's family.
He said it had also been hard on the staff and the wider Paeroa community.
