Superintendent Mike Johnson speaks to media about a 53-year-old man who died while being arrested on Thursday night.

A man has died in Napier while being arrested - during which he was Tasered, pepper-sprayed and had a police dog set on him.

Police today confirmed the incident, saying the Independent Police Conduct Authority would investigate.

At a media conference on Friday morning, acting eastern district commander Superintendent Mike Johnson said police were called after the 53-year-old man attacked his parents at their home in Hastings at about 6pm on Thursday.

John Cowpland/Fairfax NZ Under wraps: Police at the scene in Westshore, Napier, where a man died while being arrested on March 13, 2015.

The suspect used a cosh, or a club, in the attack, which was found at the address. The man's father was injured and taken to hospital for treatment. The man had left by the time police attended.

At 12.45am on Friday, the man's car was spotted by a patrol in a car park at Westshore Beach in Napier, near the intersection of the Esplanade and Pukeko Place.

When the man did not respond to police's voice appeals they smashed several car windows and deployed Tasers, pepper spray and dogs.

Ten police officers were called to the car park.

Johnson would not say why these options were deployed, or if the man was trying to harm himself.

Two Tasers had been deployed, Johnson said. One did strike him "but I'm unable to confirm the effects or otherwise of that at this time". He could not say whether the Taser had been effective or how long it had lasted.

The man did sustain an injury from a dog bite in the fracas.

Johnson said there was evidence of alcohol in the car "and that will be looked into further".

He added that the man had resisted attempts to be removed from the vehicle, and also started to struggle with officers who were trying to arrest him.

When the officers removed him from the vehicle they noticed he was struggling to breathe and his colour changed, Johnson said.

At this point "the man became ill and police staff immediately administered first aid and attempted to resuscitate him".

"We'll be carefully examining the actions of the man himself, the police staff involved and the circumstances of both instances (the earlier assault and the events at Westshore)".

He said there were extensive investigations under way and he could not provide depth of detail yet.

The man's name would not be released until his family had been notified.

He said the man was known to police and had a police history, but would not go into detail.

He did not live locally "and had not been in contact with his parents for some time".

The Independent Police Complaints Authority would conduct their own investigation.

For years, Taser opponents have warned the 50,000-volt stun-gun could be linked to a death.

Taser critic and former Green MP Keith Locke said on Friday: "While this incident is yet to be fully investigated, shocking this man with a Taser could have contributed to his death. There have been several deaths in other countries following the Police use of Tasers.

"Police in New Zealand have been too complacent about the medical effects of Taser use. People with heart problems are in danger of serious injury or death when hit with a 50,000 volt Taser shock, particularly if they are already in an emotional state.

"I hope this death provokes a full review of the dangers accompanying the use of Tasers, taking into account the international literature on Taser deaths."

Police Association President Greg O'Connor called on people to refrain from speculation, saying it would be unhelpful.

"Police officers do the job the public ask them to do, and dealing with violent offenders is an integral part of that," O'Connor said.

"Hawke's Bay Police were called upon in the early hours of Friday morning to attend such an incident. Those of us who were safe at home should refrain from criticising police actions until all facts are known.



"Those who felt the need to comment negatively on police actions should be aware of the impact of such comments on the individual officers and their families. The officers were at the scene doing the job expected of them."