It stopped Judith Collins and Story reporter Dan Parker, but Corrections' new electronic monitoring bracelet was no match for camera operator and Wainuiomata celebrity Billy Weepu.
Corrections strengthened the bracelet after reports that criminals serving time in the community were having no trouble cutting them off.
The Corrections Minister even tried it herself, saying it was "almost impossible" to cut off without "taking off your leg".
She said while it was possible to get through some of the bracelet, the wire running through the middle of it would stop any potential escapee.
Corrections says once a cut is made, an alarm sounds at the command centre telling staff something is wrong.
Rachel Leota, deputy national commissioner of Corrections said it would be hard to cut the bracelet while still attached to someone's leg.
She supplied Story with two bracelets to see if they could be cut with a pair of scissors on live television. What could possibly go wrong?
Well, Parker had no problem cutting through the first bracelet, but came into a bit of trouble getting through the strengthened one.
It looked like the bracelet and Corrections had won -- until Weepu stepped in. It still took bit of effort, but he managed to get through it.
Ms Leota was speechless, and it made for some amazingly awkward television.
"At no point did we say they'd ever be unremovable -- that would be irresponsible from the department," she said.
"What we've seen here is some brutal force. I'd like to point out this is not a real-life example, this is fitted around someone's ankle."
The clip has generated reaction on social media, including a 'Thug Life' video posted to Twitter by his All Black brother Piri Weepu.
Newshub.
