A man is in intensive care after being shot in the leg by police in South Auckland.
The police say they were called to a domestic violence incident in Manurewa at about 5pm on Saturday and were confronted by an agitated man.
The officers withdrew from the house and requested backup.
But, they say, he was shot after he wielded a knife and other means of resolving the situation failed.
However, two neighbours who witnessed the shooting told a Radio New Zealand reporter the man was holding a spade, not a knife, and was not threatening police officers with it.
He was being treated at Middlemore hospital where he is now in a stable condition.
Police say they will have their own inquiry into the incident and the Independent Police Conduct Authority will also conduct an inquiry.