Siege over: gunman found dead

Police discovered explosives in the Napier house where they found the body of gunman Jan Molenaar today.

Molenaar's body was found on the first floor master bedroom of the house around noon.

Police have said they believe it is Molenaar's body, but can not yet confirm the identity. Nor have they have been able to say how he died.

A team of five officers moved slowly through the house late this morning, finding explosives and the body, Superintendent Sam Hoyle told a press conference this afternoon.

Explosives experts were now combing the Chaucer Rd house, disarming devices as they found them.

"Explosives experts are assisting us to make sure the house is safe," he said.

Cordons around the area would remain until the area was "absolutely safe," he said.

This means many residents will still not be able to return home, more than 48 hours after the cordons went up following the fatal shooting of Senior Constable Len Snee and the wounding of two fellow officers and a civilian.

Police had only fired two shots in that time and they were both on Thursday morning after the officers and civilian were wounded, Mr Hoyle said.

All other shots fired since then had come from Molenaar, police said.

Senior Constable Bruce Miller and the injured civilian were reported to be in stable condition but still in intensive care at Hawke's Bay Hospital today, while Senior Constable Grant Diver was recovering in a general ward.

Mr Hoyle said coronial and homicide inquiries would begin, as well as an investigation into the police operation, taking in the initial visit to the Molenaar house on a cannabis bust.