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An officer used "excessive" force to move a young person away from a road during their arrest, the Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA) has found.
On 1 September, just after midnight, police spiked a stolen car on Great South Road, Papakura.
Police had been tracking the car using city cameras and Police Air Support Unit from Greenlane.
When the car was stopped, two youths left a stolen vehicle and lay down a short distance from it.
Counties Manukau District Commander, Superintendent Shanan Gray said one young person, who stayed in the car, was seen moving from the back seat to the driver's seat.
"Attending police were concerned the two youths who exited the vehicle were lying in dangerous positions, one immediately next to the stolen car and the other close to the road.
"Two officers used force to move them into a safer position," Gray said.
"The Authority found one officer was justified in using force to move the youth, however the manner in which he did so was deemed excessive."
The IPCA also found the second officer used unnecessary force to move the other young person away from the road, he said.
"Police found that both officers were justified in using force to move the youth, however the method used by the second officer was unjustified as there were other proportionate options available."
Both officers remained employed by police and employment action has been taken against the officer involved.