Four police officers shot in BOP

Photo by Ben Fraser
Photo by Ben Fraser

Defence force staff and heavily armed Special Tactics Group officers are tonight gathering near a house where an alleged gunman is holed up after shooting four police officers.

One woman who knew the alleged gunman said she had been in text contact during the day and had urged him to give himself up.

She said though he was prepared to come out, he wanted the support of family and friends, but police were not letting family through the cordon.

The man's mother told Fairfax the shooter had been texting her.

She said he wanted he to come out freely, but was scared of being sent to prison.

"Now that he's done what he's done, he would've been really scared," she told Fairfax.

"There were 100 cops here this afternoon, all armed up and everything and ready to go in...

"He knows what he's done and that's it for him."

And a woman who said she was the alleged gunman's first cousin - the Herald has chosen not to name her - was among family members at the cordon.

She said he had been texting her all afternoon. The last text message from him was at 10.41pm. She said in that message he said he wanted to come out but wanted her to go and get him.

She showed the message to police at the cordon but they told her there was no way she could go in, she said.

"This time I just want to get him but they won't let me."

About 10 friends and family members were gathered at the cordon and joined in Karakia.

Newstalk ZB reporter Hannah Bartlett said a core group of friends and family had stuck together over the past few hours.

She said the group spread a shared dinner out on the bonnet of a car.

Bartlett said a small group will be spending the night at the police cordon.

A family spokesperson was liaising with officers at the scene.

The alleged gunman also texted a friend saying "just bring me a pie and drink and I'll come out", One News reported.

A local resident, who knew the alleged gunman, said the man was in his 20s and was "born and bred" in the area, One News reported.

"It's scary ... scary when you know them."

A New Zealand Defence Force helicopter was deployed to the scene in Eastern Bay of Plenty and three Defence Force vehicles were also sent in a support role following the shootings.

Police put a no-fly zone in place after earlier reports of an armed offender taking "pot shots" at a spotter aircraft during a cannabis recovery operation.

About 6.30pm, around a dozen AOS members appeared to be preparing to move in on the sole offender, holed up in a house on Onepu Spring Rd near Kawerau.

Defence Force staff were then brought in and heavily armed officers were seen preparing to join the siege.

Armed police swarmed to the rural property about 1pm.

As the road was cordoned off, a woman, who is believed to know the alleged offender, yelled at police: "They want to shoot him, that's why they won't let us in."

She shouted angrily: "I want us to be able to go in and get him. He is not going to shoot at us. You fellas [police] are going to go in there with your guns and protect yourselves. I want these guys [two men with her] to help me go and get him out."

Two men who were with the woman were later taken down the road on foot by police. The woman remained in a car.

Acting Police Commissioner Mike Clement fronted a media briefing at Police National Headquarters in Wellington at 6pm where he confirmed just one gunman was believed to be involved in the shootings.

He wouldn't disclose whether police had made contact with the alleged gunman.

"He might indeed be watching on us on his own television so the reality is it might be pretty unhelpful for me to talk to the tactical approach staff are taking."

Mr Clement said the drama began about 10.45am when three shots were heard by police staff who were in a helicopter above Otakiri in the Bay of Plenty.

A shot was fired at the aircraft at 11.30am. Police then cordoned off the Onepu Springs Rd property.

AOS staff from Rotorua arrived shortly after 1pm. AOS dog handlers were also deployed.

Three of the officers were shot at 3.45pm.

Bay of Plenty DHB spokeswoman Diana Marriott said two Rotorua officers, aged 38 and 43, were taken to Whakatane Hospital but later discharged.

Another officer, believed to be aged 30, was in serious but stable condition in Waikato Hospital.

A fourth officer was also being treated for a gunshot wound to his hand.

Police Minister Judith Collins said the situation was still unfolding. She confirmed a shotgun was used by the offender.

All the wounded officers were members of the Armed Offenders Squad, and each was armed and wearing protective vests.

"My concern is around the welfare of the police and their families. I have full confidence in the police to run their own operation."

Ms Collins intended to visit the injured officers and their families with the Acting Commissioner or Deputy Police Commissioner today if they were in a condition to see her.

The Independent Police Conduct Authority was being advised of the incident.

Police Commissioner Mike Bush was flying back to New Zealand after only recently landing in Australia.

Prime Minister John Key said his thoughts were with the officers who were injured and their families and colleagues.

Police Association president Greg O'Connor said there was shock around the policing community, but no officer would be surprised by the days events because of the surge in offenders carrying guns.

"[Four] officers have been shot; they are the priority."

A Whakatane business owner told media somebody was running around earlier "taking pot shots" at a police spotter plane that was searching for cannabis plants.

As the cordons went up, residents were shut out of their homes and police stopped vehicles to search for weapons.

People were advised to avoid the area.

A woman near the scene of the siege said she was scared by what was happening.

"I have just come home from work and it's literally across the river from my house," she said.

"Have they caught the offenders? Kind of scary not knowing what's going on."

An Onepu Spring Rd resident, who asked not to be named, said she had seen a helicopter overhead.

She had chosen to remain inside her house and hadn't felt the need to evacuate.

"We didn't have to leave but other people have left and now they can't get back in."

Bay of Plenty police thanked members of the public for their messages of support throughout the evening.

HOW THINGS UNFOLDED

10.45am: Police hear three shots in the Otakiri area in the Bay of Plenty during an operation using a plane.

11.30am: Police cordon off a rural property on Onepu Springs Rd, Kawerau after another shot is fired at the plane, which is believed to have been searching for cannabis crops.

1pm: The Armed Offenders Squad arrive in Kawerau after being called out from Rotorua.

3.45pm: Police confirm three officers have been shot. A large police operation is underway at the property, where the gunman is believed to be holed up.

4.15pm: Two Rotorua officers arrive at Whakatane Hospital. A third officer is airlifted to Rotorua Hospital.

5.40pm: Police confirm a fourth officer has been shot.

6pm: Police hold a media briefing at National Headquarters in Wellington confirming they are only looking for one shooter.

7pm: Police announce a defence helicopter has been deployed to the scene along with three light armoured vehicles.

7.25pm: Police say a 3 mile radius no-fly zone has been established around the area.