NZ cops for the most part don't carry a sidearm but don't think they don't heave weapons readily available. Plenty of police cars have lock boxes fitted with the necessary hardware close at hand.
Last week there were a number of incidents involving firearms in Christchurch and IIRC all police patrols were armed until the suspects were apprehended.
The ex SAS soldier must live under a stone if those are his beliefs. I'm fairly sure both the local gun stores in my area have AR type weapons on the shelf.
pretty much most Police cars have rifles and side arms in lockers in the boot , I was of , and still am of mixed feelings of arming our Police . I can assure you , having been shot while in the South African Police , it really f%^king hurts , I've still got scars on both upper thighs .
The reports are now that this clown was of very extreme right wing views , what is disturbing is he live streamed his rampage via Facebook , this has now been removed