Two of the the officers shot in an armed incident in eastern Bay of Plenty today have been discharged from hospital while one remains in a serious but stable condition.
Specialist armed police staff have been sent to an address near Kawerau after four male officers were shot.
A New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) NH-90 tactical lift helicopter has been sent as support and three light armoured vehicles (LAVs). A no-fly zone is in place -- a three nautical-mile radius exclusion zone around the address.
Two officers, aged 43 and 38, have been discharged from Whakatane Hospital. They were administered at 4:15pm. Both are from Rotorua.
Another officer has been taken to Rotorua Hospital by rescue helicopter and remains in a serious but stable condition.
A fourth has suffered a gunshot injury to his hand in a separate incident at the same address. His condition is not believed to be serious but he will be receiving further treatment at Waikato Hospital tomorrow.
(Christine Smith / Newshub.)
Deputy Commissioner Mike Clement says at around 10:45am three shots were heard by police staff already in the area on a cannabis operation using aircraft.
At 11:30am another shot was fired at the aircraft and the Armed Offenders Squad (AOS) were sent to the Otakiri address on Onepu Springs Rd at around 1pm.
It is not confirmed that the aircraft was struck, and no officers were injured in the aircraft.
However at 3:45pm it was confirmed three officers had been shot by a "sole assailant" and injured in the process of apprehending at the address.
(Georgia May / 1xx)
Two dog handlers were deployed as part of the event, but none of the animals were injured.
Police say there have been no further shots since this afternoon.
"This is something when police officers go to work it can happen at any time. It strikes deeply among the whole police community," says Police Association president Greg O'Connor.
The offender remains inside the address, along with around 15 AOS members, and police continue to cordon and contain the situation.
"Don't go rubbernecking. Don't go into the area to see what you can see. That would be the worst thing you could do. Leave this to the police to sort out," says Mr O'Connor.
Deputy Commissioner Mike Clement (Newshub.)
Mr Clement says there will be a full investigation into today's events, but the current emphasis is on containing the situation and providing support for the officers and their families.
"While our staff work in dynamic and sometimes dangerous environment, it is always distressing for us all when officers are injured while doing their duty to keep this community safe," he says.
"We are still building a picture of the events around today's incident."
Police Commissioner Mike Bush is currently in Australia, but he has been briefed on the incident and will be flying back to New Zealand overnight.
The Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA) will also be advised.
Newshub.
