Update: 6:43am – Two women had gone to a home to carry out a property inspection when they were shot and killed near Whangarei, police have revealed.
Police are addressing media after the women – who were possibly related – were shot at a rural Northland address. A man was also shot.
The alleged shooter was known to police. Tear gas was used and shots were fired between the alleged offender and police. They believe the man is still at the house but it is unclear if he is alive. Police said the incident was not gang related.
About 11am, police and the Armed Offenders Squad were called and cordoned off the area, on Mt Tiger Rd about 10km from Whangarei.
Two people were feared dead and a man was in a stable condition in Whangarei Hospital with moderate injuries. This afternoon, the house was on fire. Witnesses described seeing big plumes of black smoke.
Rosvall Sawmill owner Mark Hansen said he could see “lots of black smoke” about 2km away on Mount Tiger Road behind trees.
Fire Northern Communications Shift Manager Jaron Phillips said they had four fire crews including a water tanker and a command unit at the property.
Initial crews have been at the scene since 12.30 but the water tanker was called around “We’re assisting police and responding to a staging area.” Police were due to have a media conference about the incident at 4.30pm, but have delayed it half an hour.
Police and the Armed Offenders Squad were called about 11am and cordoned off the area, about 10km from Whangarei. They believe the offender is still within the cordon.
Detective Inspector Dene Begbie confirmed police believed two people were dead in the incident. Police officers and armed offenders squad members remained in the area. “If you are already in the cordoned area please remain in your house,” Begbie said in a video statement posted on Facebook.
“If you see any activity on your property please call through to police on 111. I just want to thank the community for your patience.
“I assure you that as soon as we are able to we’ll shut those cordons down and keep you informed of the progress of the investigation.”
The Eagle helicopter has been deployed and the police negotiation team is at the scene. Police are advising people at properties in the cordon to stay inside.
After a cordon was set up, a man in a red Suzuki with a bullet hole through the windscreen drove towards it. He got out and was taken by police to the back of a waiting ambulance.
A local has posted on Facebook about seeing an ambulance heading into town with lights on but no siren about 12.30pm. A police helicopter landed in a paddock near the cordon about 2.15pm.
A policeman carrying a bag got out and ran over to his colleagues before the helicopter took off again.
Only a few minutes later the Westpac Rescue Helicopter landed in the same paddock and four people dressed in camouflage gear with firearms got out and ran towards waiting police staff.
Westpac Rescue Helicopter says they have transported police resources to the cordon, but won’t confirm what those resources are.
Sawmill owner Mark Hansen said all 55 staff spent nearly two hours in the company’s smoko room waiting for the all-clear.
“Police said there had been a shooting up the road and suspected whoever was responsible was on the loose.”
Hansen said it was frustrating to be in lockdown for nearly two hours. “We’re losing many thousands of dollars an hour but that’s okay. Our staff come first,” he said.
A man who lives close to where the shootings happened, said he knew one person at the house at the centre of the emergency but refused to comment further. He was at work and only heard about the massive police presence through text messages and phone calls from his friends and neighbours.
