New Zealand's Parliamentary Service is reviewing security in the wake of the shooting at Canada's parliament in Ottawa, Radio New Zealand reports.
A gunman shot dead a soldier guarding a nearby war memorial, hijacked a car, crashed it into the parliament building before running inside firing a weapon yesterday. The man - now known to be Canadian citizen Michael Zehaf-Bibeau - was eventually shot dead by police.
In Wellington, extra measures were temporarily put in place at the Beehive to deter any copycats yesterday - but it could spell tighter security in future in the capital.
Entry points to Parliament buildings have been restricted to just two doors - one on Bowen Street and another at the main entrance to the Beehive.
And there's definitely increased security around parliament. More guards outside.
— Katie Bradford (@katieabradford) October 23, 2014
The Leader of the House Gerry Brownlee said Parliamentary Service will consider whether those measures should be continued long term.
Senior Labour MP Clayton Cosgrove said it would be a sad day if access to Parliament was restricted, as one of the beauties of New Zealand's Parliament was that people can come and go with a great deal of ease.
But New Zealand First leader Winston Peters said he doesn't feel safe there and suggested that security guards could be armed.
