A police officer was injured when he fell and hit his head during the incident in Hamilton last night where a man was fatally shot.
Police have given more details on last night's fatal shooting in Hamilton, as well as a shooting near an Auckland motorway this morning.
Police assistant commissioner Richard Chambers spoke about both incidents.
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A man who police say was threatening a member of the public with a firearm after crashing vehicles was shot in Auckland late this morning, and a man was shot and killed by police in the Hamilton suburb of Hillcrest yesterday, in two police shooting incidents within 24 hours.
Police assistant commissioner Richard Chambers. Photo: RNZ / Sarah Robson
Chambers said police in Hamilton were called to an address on O'Donoghue Street last night concerned for a man's safety. They had information suggesting he had a high powered firearm that he might use against himself, police or other people.
Police didn't initially find him at the address, but returned when the man arrived. He got out of his car, and shot at the officers a number of times, Chambers said.
''We responded with fire and he was hit and sadly fatally injured. My colleagues administered first aid straight away, but he did pass away a short time later.''
Chambers said an officer involved injured his head when he fell. He was at Waikato Hospital on Thursday afternoon, about to undergo surgery.
Police cordoned off a street in Hamilton after officers fatally shot a man at an O'Donoghue St property in Hillcrest. Photo: RNZ / Andrew McRae
Chambers could not comment on the type of 'high powered' firearm the man who was killed had. But he said at least five shots were fired by the man, and a police investigation would clarify how many shots were fired by officers.
''We did our absolute best in a situation to take him into custody safely and without injury, but when somebody opens fire on my staff we need to deal with those situations as they present to us, and sadly as a result of what occurred last night he lost his life.
''My staff did the best they could to look after him and save him from that, but he sadly passed away. Our sympathies are with the family of the man who has passed away, and we will provide the support to his family as required.''
Police were also providing support to their own officers who had been at the scene, "to ensure that they make the best possible recovery from what is a very traumatic and challenging situation for police officers in dealing with volatile situations such as this," Chambers said.
