A machete wielding man was arrested at gunpoint after a police officer was forced to barricade himself in a small, Mt Roskill church yesterday.
More than 10 police cars, the police dog squad and the police Eagle helicopter were called to the incident at the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa on Mr Roskill's Parkinson Ave, shortly after midday on Saturday.
Witness Tofi Huch said they were attending a meeting to discuss rebuilding the church when a man came demanding speakers he claimed to own.
A fight then broke out with other church members, during which a man was assaulted with 4" by 2" pieces of timber.
"The poor guy got bitten by the eye...so he's gone to the hospital," she said.
After the alleged assailant was told to leave, he later returned with his two sons, one of which was carrying a machete, Ms Huch said.
Auckland District Command Centre Senior Sergeant Matt Rogers said a lone officer was at the church recording details of the original assault when the three men returned.
"He and the people in the church were having to barricade themselves inside whist the offenders outside were trying to smash their way in with a machete, threatening to kill them and burn the place down.
"One of the people [was] arrested at gunpoint outside the church and then two more were located a short time later," Mr Rogers said.
"It wasn't until police officers with guns arrived to be able to grab the guy at gunpoint that he finally acquiesced."
Auckland city police district commander Superintendent Richard Chambers said the lone sergeant, who was unarmed, attempted to reason with the men through the window, in an effort to calm them down, however was unsuccessful.
A 54-year-old man has been arrested and charged with serious assault in relation to the initial disorder and a 29-year-old man has been arrested and charged with threatens to kill, possession of an offensive weapon and intentional damage.
They are due to appear in the Auckland District Court on Monday morning.
An investigation into the incident was ongoing.
By Brendan Manning of NZME. News Service
