The police watchdog says no units were available to respond to the five 111 calls at the time (file image). Photo: RNZ / Alexander Robertson
Police say they could not have anticipated a stabbing despite multiple emergency calls in the lead up to the event - and the police watchdog agrees.
A woman made five calls to police about what she felt was an unsafe situation on the afternoon of Christmas Eve 2020.
During the final call a man was stabbed in a fight.
The Independent Police Conduct Authority found that police responded appropriately based on the information they were provided.
The woman in a rural Bay of Plenty area first called police to say she was assaulted and was concerned for the safety of her niece's children.
Police decided they did not need to attend immediately as the women had left the place she was assaulted and her relatives did not seem to be in immediate danger.
The police planned to have the women's family members take her to the Whakatāne police station to make a statement.
However, the women unexpectedly returned to her niece's address along with three men where she made her final call to police.
The women's daughter has complained that police should have responded immediately to the 111 calls, and this would have prevented the man's fatal wounding.
The IPCA said no police units were available to assign the job at the time.
Bay of Plenty District commander, Superintendent Tim Anderson said: "Police prioritises calls for service, so the most urgent calls where there is a real risk to safety are attended first.
"The calls did not indicate an emergency response was required, and a plan had been made with the woman to take a statement from her," he said.
IPCA chairperson Judge Colin Doherty agreed "an appropriate plan was agreed with the woman to ensure her safety and to make a later statement to police".
"Police could not have reasonably anticipated the subsequent incident that resulted in death".