Terror training bungle: Armed police confront caterer - twice

Author: Carolyne Meng-Yee,
Publish Date: Thu, 2 Jul 2026, 8:40am

Catering staff at Go Media Stadium in Auckland were accidentally caught up in an Armed Offenders Squad counter-terrorism training exercise with simulated gunfire. Photo / Hayden Woodward

Catering staff at an Auckland stadium were accidentally caught up in an Armed Offenders Squad counter-terrorism training exercise with simulated gunfire.

Police have apologised for “this unfortunate incident” and promised welfare support for any affected staff, as well as an independent review into what went wrong.

Acting Inspector David Mayes of Auckland Police said AOS staff at a training exercise at Go Media Stadium last week twice encountered a contractor from Ovation Hospitality, as blank rounds were being fired in a different part of the stadium.

He said the man was “challenged and told to put his hands up” the second time.

When the Herald asked whether the man was forced to the ground at gunpoint, a police spokesman said they couldn’t substantiate that and declined to comment.

In a statement provided to the Herald, Mayes said: “Police conducted a training exercise for the Armed Offenders Squad at Go Media Stadium on Wednesday, June 24. The exercise ran from 8am to 12pm, with staff onsite from 7.45am to set up.

“Exercises like this are a vital part of making sure emergency services can respond to any situation and are conducted regularly at various locations around the country.”

Mayes said police staff were used for the exercise, rather than actors or volunteers.

Police had established an area of operation to work within before the exercise began, but when it started they unfortunately encountered contract staff working on site.

“At some stage during the exercise, there was some uncertainty concerning a kitchen area in the stadium. Subsequently, there was an unexpected interaction with a contractor in the area of operation.

“Initially, AOS staff believed he was a role player and part of the training exercise.

“The exercise was live at this point, and blank rounds were being fired in a different part of the stadium.

“Staff told the man to go to an exit point, while also using a hand to guide him towards that point. At no point was anyone injured.

“Through this interaction, he told staff he was a contractor onsite. Our staff apologised and directed the man to return to the non-operational area.

“Later on, in the training exercise in the same operational area, a second encounter has occurred with the same man.

“The man has been challenged and told to put his hands up, as per the training exercise.

“He was quickly identified as not part of the exercise and staff apologised to him. His manager was also spoken with.

“An initial debrief has been held, and police will look to offer welfare support for any impacted contract staff. We reiterate our apology for this unfortunate incident and any distress caused.

“Police will undertake an independent review, along with our partners, to identify any lessons learned as a result.”

Go Media Stadium was hired to police for a training exercise.

A spokesperson from Go Media Stadium confirmed the venue was hired for a police training exercise last Wednesday.

“All Auckland Stadiums staff, tenants and suppliers were made aware of the hired activity,” the spokesperson said.

The general manager of stadium partnerships, Paul Marquardt, told the Herald: “The business position is that Ovation currently doesn’t want to comment. We are currently in the middle of an investigation both with the New Zealand Police and the stadiums teams to make sure we have all the facts and the causation.”

Carolyne Meng-Yee is an Auckland-based investigative journalist who won Best Documentary at the Voyager Media Awards. She worked for the Herald on Sunday from 2007-2011 and rejoined the Herald in 2016 after working as an award-winning current affairs producer at TVNZ’s 60 Minutes, 20/20 and Sunday.