TAURANGA, NEW ZEALAND — A critical incident investigation is underway after a man lost consciousness and died in police custody overnight following an arrest involving a Taser and pepper spray in the Bay of Plenty region.

The incident, which has been referred to the Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA), began in the early hours of Wednesday morning in Mount Maunganui.

According to Bay of Plenty District Commander Superintendent Will Loughrin, police spotted a vehicle of interest linked to a wanted individual at approximately 12:32 AM of Wednesday, June 3, 2026. Officers monitored the vehicle as it moved through Mount Maunganui until the driver came to a halt on Kaniere Street.

Events quickly escalated when the driver exited the car.

"The driver exited his vehicle and attempted to flee on foot unsuccessfully, before getting back into his vehicle and ramming a Police vehicle, attempting to leave the scene," Superintendent Loughrin said in a statement.

In their efforts to subdue and arrest the man, responding officers deployed both a Taser and OC (oleoresin capsicum) pepper spray.

Following his arrest, the man was placed into a police vehicle to be transported to the Tauranga Police Station. However, during the short journey, he suddenly became unresponsive.

Police units immediately requested emergency medical assistance, with an ambulance dispatched to the scene just a minute later at 12:42 AM. While waiting for paramedics to arrive, police staff commenced cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

St John ambulance personnel assumed medical care upon their arrival, but despite prolonged resuscitation efforts, the man was pronounced dead at approximately 1:45 AM.

Police have notified the deceased man’s family and have extended their condolences, promising "wrap-around" support during what they described as a highly distressing time. Support services have also been put in place for the officers involved in the arrest.

Following standard procedure for deaths in state custody, a multi-agency oversight process has been triggered. This includes a Critical Incident Investigation launched by senior police to map out the sequence of events, a formal notification to the Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA) for an independent review of the use of force, and an advisory sent to WorkSafe New Zealand regarding the workplace-adjacent fatality.

Specialist police teams remain at Kaniere Street conducting detailed scene examinations, and further inquiries are ongoing to determine whether the use of tactical options directly contributed to the man's fatal medical event.