The AM Show host Duncan Garner brandished a toy gun on Thursday morning's show, as the panel discussed whether they should continue to be sold.
Realistic-looking toy assault rifles and other weapons are still available in shops, despite the ban on firearms currently being rolled out across the country.
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Garner said he recently bought one for his son, paying $40 for the weapon which shoots "water-soluble" bullets.
"They're similar looking to the real deal," Garner said.
A poll by The AM Show found 56 percent of people were in favour of the continued sale of realistic-looking toy guns.
Newsreader Amanda Gillies said she has a different perspective following the Christchurch shooting in March, where 51 people died when a gunman opened fire at two of the city's mosques.
"If you had asked me before March 15 I would have probably gone, 'nah it's fine' - things changed on that day.
"So I say, no - because that is a very realistic looking gun."
Garner had an opposing point of view.
"I say let's continue to sell them, because I use it as an educational thing."
Fill-in sports reader Nicky Styris agreed.
"To me, it's a bit like the pill testing thing; you're probably not going to stop kids wanting to play with guns.
"Like Duncan says, educate them. Show them; 'this is how you actually use it properly'."
Newshub.
