A shell containing a Taser barb fired from a shotgun is one of the alternative weapons police are considering using in their fight against crime.

Police are defending the effectiveness of Taser stun guns after they failed to subdue armed offenders in two separate incidents in the past week.

The parents of a 4-year-old boy now with CYF care are being charged with leaving him alone without adequate supervision.

A policeman armed himself to protect others while bleeding from a gunshot wound that almost killed him.

The two police officers who were shot in Christchurch on Tuesday morning have been released from hospital and are recovering with their families.

Veteran police dog handler Bruce Lamb is still managing to maintain his sense of humour, despite losing his 'best friend'.

A third police officer tried to taser a man accused of shooting two Christchurch constables yesterday.

The Govt is looking seriously at legislation to restrict the sale of high-powered air rifles which are being blamed for two recent slayings in Auckland.

Guns could be made more accessible to police amid concerns about the growing number of officers being "ambushed".

Police dog Gage appears to have given up its life to save its handler and created some time to allow officers to escape from the scene of yesterday's shooting.

Police are set to get greater access to firearms after two officers were shot and wounded in Christchurch today, according to Police Commissioner Howard Broad.

Two men have been taken into custody after a police dog was killed and two police officers injured in an armed incident in Christchurch.

A police dog was killed and two police officers injured in an armed incident in Christchurch today.

Mount Hutt ski-field will not be changing its policy towards skiing off piste after two deaths this season.

Police investigating the disappearance of Christchurch woman Emma Campbell warn she may never be found.

Police are investigating the death of a woman at Mount Hutt ski field in Canterbury this afternoon.