A wanted gang member is in hospital with moderate injuries after being shot by police in Hamilton.
Police swarmed a Hamilton street and closed off a hotel earlier this morning after CCTV helped them track a vehicle to the area.
Inspector Will Loughrin said police responded to reports of a vehicle driving "erratically" in Te Awamutu just before 9am.
Information suggested the driver was wanted by police in relation to "violent" incidents on 29 January.
An image from the scene shows a man on a stretcher. Photo: Supplied
When police caught up with the stolen vehicle on Ulster Street, the man allegedly pointed a shotgun at police as he tried to leave the car park of a dairy.
"Police appealed for the man to put the shotgun down, which he failed to do.
"An officer then fired two shots at the offender."
A cordon is in place on Ulster Street in Hamilton. Photo: Libby Kirkby-McLeod
Medical assistance was given to the man immediately before he was taken to hospital in a critical condition.
He was now in a moderate condition, Loughrin said, and his injuries were not believed to be life threatening.
"A second occupant of the vehicle was taken into custody at the scene," Loughrin said.
There was a heavy police presence in Hamilton following the incident. Photo: Libby Kirkby-McLeod
"Thankfully, no police staff were injured in this incident."
Loughrin said the man was a 40-year-old patched gang member and wanted for prior "violent offences".
The 29-year-old female who was in the car with him was wanted for the same offences, Loughrin said.
Loughrin would not go into detail of what the earlier offences were.
Inspector Will Loughrin (file image). Photo: RNZ/ Nick Monro
Ulster Street remains closed off from the Mill Street intersection and the public is urged to avoid the area.
"We want to reassure the community that there is no ongoing public safety risk following this incident.
"Police are conducting reassurance patrols around the area. The community can also expect to see an increased police presence in the coming days."
Loughrin said he was proud of the officers who were confronted with a violent gang member who presented a firearm at them.
It was not the day they would have expected to have but they were highly trained and he was "really proud" of what they had done.
Earlier, an RNZ reporter at the scene said police cars could be seen parked in the street and police officers were going door-to-door speaking with people.
They declined to answer questions.
Cordons were in place on Ulster Street. Photo: Supplied
Alpha Motel manager Ford McArley, inside the cordon, said he also heard something before police arrived at the scene.
"I started drilling in the rooms to put TVs on the wall and just heard what sounded like two car tyres, and didn't think anything of it," he said.
"And then right outside the motel, there were police everywhere."
McArley said police weren't saying much about what happened.
He said it wasn't typical of the street.
"I've been here just about three months now, and we've never had the street blocked off like this," McArley said.
Loughrin said a critical incident investigation was underway and the incident will also be referred to the Independent Police Conduct Authority.
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