One hundred sets of the Stinger spikes were trialled in the Counties-Manukau region for 12 months and favourable results spurred police to order a national supply.
In the past year 650 sets of the new spikes were distributed nationwide and another 1227 sets were currently on order.
Prior to introduction of the new Stingers, police had access to just 200 sets of road spikes.
Rob Morgan, national adviser operational policy and standards for road policing, said spikes were another tactical option for police to use during a pursuit.
"Pursuits are dangerous for everyone and this is a way to minimise risk to the public and police," he said.
"The idea with the new spikes is to have as many frontline vehicles as we can equipped with them."
The Stingers can stretch up to 10 metres and weigh a tenth of their predecessors.
They were also easier and safer to deploy.
The chase involving Pehi began when he and his two young passengers drove off from a Papamoa petrol station without paying.
The boy lost control of the car after running over police spike strips laid across the road on State Highway 28 near Te Poi, between Matamata and Putaruru.
He collided with an oncoming van and died inside the vehicle.
His two passengers were injured and taken to Waikato Hospital along with the driver of the van.
- NZPA
