The surprising items wielded as weapons in New ZealandSTUFF A wide variety of household items are used as weapons in violent crimes, including vacuum cleaner hoses. Figures provided to Stuff showed almost half of all weapons offences in New Zealand over the past two years involved items described as "weapons of opportunity". Overall statistics showed firearms made up about 10 per cent of weapons offences, while sharp instruments; knives, glass bottles etc. "The main weapons we see in relation to the use of weapons and violence is weapons of opportunity; that's probably the growing area." The Tasman district, covering Nelson, Marlborough and the West Coast, had the lowest number of weapons offences, 278, which included just nine victimisations involving a firearm.

Source: Stuff July 18, 2016 05:37 UTC