The Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA) has concluded that officers’ use of force during the arrest of Faasala Samu Matue at Ōrere Point in March 2025 did not contribute to his death, although it found two instances of manual force were unjustified and criticised inappropriate comments made by officers at the scene.
The incident unfolded on 2 March 2025 after officers located a vehicle in the Papakura area believed to have been involved in two aggravated robberies in which a firearm had been presented. The vehicle was tracked to Ōrere Point, where it stopped on the beach.
According to the IPCA, one of the two occupants complied immediately with officers’ instructions. Mr Matue, however, allegedly confronted officers while armed with a metal pole, resisted arrest and continued to struggle despite multiple attempts to restrain him.
During the arrest, officers used a range of force options, including Tasers, pepper spray, physical restraint and a police dog. The watchdog found that most of those actions were justified given the circumstances, but determined that two uses of manual force exceeded what was necessary. It also found some officers made comments at the scene that were inappropriate and unprofessional.
The Authority said that once Mr Matue had been restrained, officers requested an ambulance in accordance with standard procedure following Taser deployments. While waiting for paramedics, officers provided first aid and moved him into a shaded area. His condition then deteriorated, prompting officers to insert a nasopharyngeal airway and later perform CPR until ambulance staff arrived. He died while in custody on the beach.
A post-mortem examination found Mr Matue died from methamphetamine intoxication after swallowing a large quantity of the drug. MDMA, cannabis and alcohol were also detected in his system. The examination concluded that the officers’ actions did not contribute to his death.
In response to the findings, Counties Manukau District Commander Superintendent Shanan Gray acknowledged the IPCA’s conclusions, describing the incident as a tragic outcome.
“The language and unjustified use of force identified in the report was unacceptable and a departure from our values,” Gray said.
He also noted that the officers involved remain employed, although he declined to comment on any employment processes that followed the incident. Gray thanked staff who responded to what he described as an “extremely volatile and confronting” situation and extended condolences to Mr Matue’s family.
