Cops defend highway closure after fatal shooting

Police say a 12-hour motorway closure after a fatal shooting north of Auckland was "regrettable" but they make no apologies to frustrated motorists for doing their job.

A 27km stretch of State Highway 1 near Puhoi was closed to all traffic on Saturday after a man was shot dead by police.

He was killed after confronting officers with a machete just before 4am and the road was closed immediately.

It did not reopen until 3.55pm.

The closure created traffic chaos for hundreds of people heading out of the city for the long Easter weekend.

Police have been heavily criticised for the closure - primarily for the length of time they had the area shut down to traffic.

Today, Inspector Trevor Beggs, road policing manager for the Waitemata District, explained exactly what was happening inside the cordon and why it took 12 hours to clear the scene.

"That location is often associated with serious crashes, and in that situation the Serious Crash Unit will get in, do what they need to do and be out in a couple of hours," he said.

"But this was a firearms incident, a much more complex and difficult scene.

"We only get one chance to gather evidence and to do the best job we can."

Police are investigating the death of the 29-year-old alongside parallel investigations by the Coroner and Independent Police Conduct Authority.

Beggs said it was crucial to ensure every piece of available evidence was collected - including physical evidence, scene photographs and mapping of the area.

"We had a range of people who came in to the scene, including outside agencies," he explained.

"There were the initial staff who responded, then detective teams, then the photography section, mapping, ESR forensic staff and others.

"The ESR guys are often in their on their hands and knees looking for vital evidence."

Beggs said there was no way the scene examination could have been completed any faster, and the location of the incident made traffic diversion challenging.

He thanked motorists for their patience and hoped those criticising police for the delays would understand how and why it had happened.

"It was regrettable that it took so long, but unfortunately that could not be helped.

"I visited the scene and I was comfortable that staff were working flat out to get that road opened - literally, people were doing their absolute best to get everything done.

"At the end of the day, we had one chance to get it right - and we needed to get it right."

The investigations into the death of the East Auckland man are ongoing.

His name will not be released until after his funeral, at the direct request of his family.

Police are appealing for anyone who saw the victim's car to contact them.

 

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