By Sam Sherwood and Adam Burns of RNZ
The pastor of a church attended by a couple shot by police - one fatally - in Christchurch says the incident is "heartbreaking".
It comes as a friend of the couple said they had issues with family violence and addiction but "seemed to be getting alright".
Police were called to a house in Clyde Rd, in the suburb of Bryndwr, about 11pm yesterday after receiving a report that a man armed with a knife was threatening himself and his partner.
Canterbury District Commander Superintendent Tony Hill said in a statement this afternoon officers established a safe forward point and made a tactical decision to arm themselves.
"At that point, a woman ran out of the house, closely followed by the man, who was in possession of a hunting knife," Hill said.
"Police believed the woman was at risk of imminent serious harm and fired a single shot, which struck the man.
"As an officer immediately approached the man to provide first aid, the woman picked up the knife and began to threaten the officers.
"Despite an appeal for her to put the weapon down, she advanced on police, brandishing the knife. A second shot was fired, hitting the woman."
Immediate medical assistance was provided to the woman but she died shortly afterwards, Hill said.
The man is in a stable condition in hospital and his injuries were not thought to be life-threatening.
"These incidents are extremely distressing for all involved, and our number one priority is to offer support to the family of the two people shot, as they come to terms with what has happened," Hill said.
Support was in place for the 10 officers who attended the shooting.
Hill said there was no ongoing threat to the public.
Senior pastor Eduardo Mendonça told RNZ the church helped the local community through various programmes as well as lunches and breakfasts. The couple would regularly attend.
"We just always dealt with them as a couple. Our main goal as a church was just to serve with the basic needs, like immediate needs, and of course, with sharing our beliefs as a Christian church. That is our main involvement with them."
He said the community was devastated at the news.
"Our hearts are broken to know that people so close to us in that community went through this.
"We are devastated. It's heartbreaking to know the people that we've been serving and talking and in a sense, you know, just getting to know slowly, you know, within their own lives, they were going through such pressure and difficulties that that led them to this."
Nate Light said the pair had issues with family violence and addiction.
"They had been having their troubles over the past few days. They seemed to be getting all right because we had spoken to them. They seemed to be getting alright," he said, tearfully.
The man was in a "bit of weird headspace".
"I'd like to say that I could have come down with my partner last night and told [the man] to come chill at home with the dogs. But that's me putting it on myself like it's not my fault, you know.
"It's just there's things I could have done. I could have done this, and could have done that, but, f***, there's nothing you can do really at the end of the day."
The neighbour, who asked not to be named, said they had lived at the house for about six years.
"They were very unhappy. She was a very unhappy person. They fought a lot. She was always calling the police."
For a while police would be called "every few months," she said.
About a year ago the woman who lived at the house told her neighbour the couple were going through anger management.
Since then, things appeared to be quieter she said.
"I thought maybe they had sorted things out."
Last night, the resident said she heard a loud bang and later saw police.
"I was surprised that it happened because they'd been quiet for a long while."
Scene guards were in place at the Clyde Rd property, and residents could expect to see a continued police presence in the coming days.
Kāinga Ora has confirmed to RNZ the fatal shooting was at one of its properties and said its thoughts were with all those affected.
Regional director Liz Krause said it would be reaching out to nearby tenants to see if they needed more support over the coming days.
A investigation was under way and the shooting would also be referred to watchdog the Independent Police Conduct Authority, police said.
- Additional reporting Allied Media
