New Zealand police say bodyguards for VIPs attending the Rugby World Cup will not be allowed to carry guns.
Police have the power to allow foreign security personnel to carry any kind of weaponry, from machine-guns to rocket launchers, but only handguns were permitted in the past.
They were given the power in 1999 when it became obvious that dignitaries would not attend an APEC summit in Auckland unless their bodyguards were armed.
However, for the Rugby World Cup, police say they will be the only security personnel to carry guns and will be responsible for protecting visiting dignitaries and heads of state.
