The Mielnik family, of Ashburton, say an armed police raid of their rural home last Thursday was "heavy-handed''. PHOTO: JOHN KEASTPolice have been accused of targeting "everyday Kiwis'' during recent armed raids to seize firearms on rural South Island properties. On Thursday, the subject of the latest of the "shocking'' raids was former Dunedin man Adam Mielnik (37), now a farm manager near Ashburton. Mr Mielnik's uncle Paul Mielnik, of Brockville, alerted the Otago Daily Times to the "heavy-handed'' raid yesterday, expressing concerns they could also occur in Otago and Southland. Following the interrogation, the detectives told Mr Mielnik they would need to confiscate his AR-15, worth about $2600, and $400 of accessories and ammunition.

Source: Otago Daily Times May 13, 2019 16:30 UTC