All frontline police response staff will now routinely carry tasers.
Police Commissioner Mike Bush announced the new initiative from Police Headquarters in Wellington this morning, saying the change was about enhancing the safety of New Zealand communities and police staff.
The initiative meant tasers could be carried by appropriately trained staff at all times while they were on duty.
Those staff were level one trained police staff, the majority of who were frontline police staff, Mr Bush said.
There are about 5500 police staff trained as level one responders.
Currently, these staff could access tasers from a lockbox in frontline police vehicles if required.
Mr Bush said the decision to role out tasers to all frontline police staff was made following detailed research, which showed the taser was successful in de-escalating violent situations.
"The reality is that police officers often enter into high risk situations.
"With taser immediately accessible, this provides added confidence for our staff and communities that if a situation does escalate into violence that our officers have appropriate tools to manage the situation."
The implementation of the initiative would begin today, Mr Bush said.
However, it would be weeks or months before frontline staff would actually be carrying a taser.
Police currently have approximately 1000 tasers, and between 400 and 600 more will be purchased as part of the initiative.
Funding would come from within the police budget, Mr Bush said.
Police Association President Greg O'Connor said the taser was a "less lethal option" than a firearm.
Arming frontline officers with tasers will improve safety for not only police, but also the public, he said.
The association would work with police to ensure tasers continued to be used responsibly and sparingly, Mr O'Connor said.
Police Minister Michael Woodhouse said he "fully supported'' the new taser policy and described it as a "welcome move''.
"We know frontline officers often find themselves in rapidly changing situations and it is not always practical to return to their vehicle to retrieve a taser,'' he said.
"Having a taser strapped to their hip provides officers with another option to diffuse or deal with violent offenders.''
Tasers had proven to be an effective tactical option for both preventing and responding to high-risk situations, and the risk of injury to the public, offenders and police was consistently low, he said.
Since 2010, tasers had been available to police during 30,000 reported incidents attended by police.
"But due to their deterrent effect, in almost 90 per cent of cases they have not been discharged,'' Mr Woodhouse said.
"We owe it to the frontline officers protecting our communities and keeping us safe to ensure they have access to all tactical options they may need during the course of duty.''
The minister said the new policy would require the purchase of between 400 and 600 devices, which would be funded from within the police's existing budget.
Dr Anthony O'Brien, senior lecturer at the University of Auckland's School of Nursing said the use of Tasers needed "careful monitoring".
"The perception of the Taser as safe may lead to increased use.
"In particular, the use of Tasers with vulnerable groups such as people with mental illness and addiction need to be monitored as in many instances individuals with mental illness are the subject of police attention due to aspects of mental illness, not criminal behaviour."
- By Nikki Papatsoumas of NZME
