One person has been taken into police custody after four people were injured in Murrays Bay in Auckland on Thursday
In a statement, police said officers are still working to confirm the exact number and nature of injuries.
Newshub understands several women were stabbed.
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What you need to know
- Four people are injured after a stabbing in Murrays Bay
- Police have one person in custody
- Diversions are in place and roads are blocked off
These live updates have now finished.
5:00pm - Waitematā District Commander Superintendent Naila Hassan said there will be an increased police presence across the community as a result of what has occurred.
"Whilst Police generally discourage intervening, we greatly appreciated their efforts today which undoubtedly prevented further harm," Supt Hassan said.
"We also want to thank those who called emergency services.
"Understandably the community will be shaken by what has occurred today and I would like to reassure them that this was an isolated incident and we have the person responsible in custody.
"I would like to thank the community for their patience as scene examinations and area canvases taking place.
"Anyone who witnessed today's events and hasn't spoken with our staff is encouraged to come forward to assist our investigation."
4:40pm - Police have released a timeline of what unfolded earlier today.
Waitematā District Commander Superintendent Naila Hassan said police initially received reports of the incident at 11:18am on Thursday.
Supt Hassan said the offender approached a house on Westbourne Road where he stabbed an occupant of the property.
The offender then left the address and headed towards Murrays Beach, where three people near a bus stop also received stab wounds.
A member of the public intervened near Mairangi Bay and stopped the offender until the police arrived shortly afterwards and took a male into custody.
The offender is currently in custody under police guard at North Shore Hospital. He will also be undergoing further assessments by the appropriate agencies.
4:00pm - Supt Hassan said the stabbings were not a hate crime and the attack was random and not planned.
"I want to reassure the community that this was an isolated incident, the offender has been apprehended and he is in custody
"This was a random attack, there's no indication it's a hate crime of any type. The victims were of different gender, ethnicity and age."
"This offender is a local person, he has been out in public and he has randomly stabbed four members of the public."
3:40pm - Superintendent Naila Hassan praised the members of the public who held up the offender, allowing police to arrest him. One person reportedly tripped him up with a crutch.
"There were members of the public that acted in extreme bravery, they apprehended the offender and brought this incident to its conclusion," she said.
"Members of the public were following him and eventually one of them intervened as he approached Mairangi Bay."
People are also praising them on social media.
3:20pm - Auckland Mayoral candidate Viv Beck has tweeted a message for the victims and emergency services.
3:13pm - The police stand up is now over.
3:10pm - Police say four people were stabbed in the incident.
Waitematā District Commander, Superintendent Naila Hassan says the offender was a local person. He was on foot and stabbed a number of people at Murrays Bay then walked through to Mairangi Bay.
A member of the public used a crutch to stop the offender.
She said there is no indication it was a hate crime.
Hassan has acknowledged the bravery of the public who apprehended the offender.
She told reporters it was a random attack and police don't believe it was planned.
Police said the offender was injured and is receiving treatment, but they would not confirm the extent of the injuries.
3:10pm - An eyewitness has told the Herald the alleged attacker ran at her with the knife.
"And - fight or flight - I turned away and ran the other way and I looked back and he had a big knife, running at me," she said.
"I was screaming, calling out for help because he was chasing me with this big knife," she told the Herald.
3:00pm - The police briefing is so far running 15 minutes late.
2:46pm - Another woman told Newshub she was having a coffee on the beach when someone ran up and told her to "get your kids away".
"A lady came over and said, 'You need to get your kids away' and I thought that maybe the kids had been up by the construction site and they didn't want them playing in the area. But then straight after that another man came and he had a big stick. He was quite panicked and said, 'Just grab your kids and run as fast as you can down the beach'. So we all just grabbed our kids and left everything behind and ran for it."
She said she was trying to run away while carrying her children but it was "really scary".
"The kids were really upset and were crying and screaming. Yeah, it was pretty scary."
2:40pm - Police are providing an update in five minutes. The livestream can be watched above or click here.
2:33pm - A woman who was walking her dog with her husband said she stumbled across the horrific scene.
"I saw ambulance staff treating some people, they didn't look seriously hurt but then we went further along and spoke to another person who said there had been a stabbing."
The woman said it was such a lovely day and such a nice area so the stabbing was extremely shocking.
2:24pm - Photos from the scene show a large kitchen knife on the ground. A broken crutch can also be seen on the tarmac.
2:15pm - A woman told NZ Herald she was walking her dog on the beach earlier in the day when she noticed a man standing near the water.
She said he turned around and started walking towards her. She said she thought he just wanted to chat but then he started running at her with a knife.
"And - fight or flight - I turned away and ran the other way and I looked back and he had a big knife, running at me," she told NZ Herald.
"I was screaming, calling out for help because he was chasing me with this big knife."
2:06pm - Beach Road is closed between Westbourne Road and Lyons Avenue.
2:00pm - East Coast Bays MP Eric Stanford said it was "extremely upsetting to hear about the tragic stabbing".
"My heart goes out to all the victims and their families," she said.
1:55pm - Murrays Bay childcare centre says all the teachers and children are safe after the stabbing.
"Just a very quick note to let you all know that all the teachers and children are safe and sound at MBCC after today's very sad incident in our community," the centre said.
"Take care and stay safe lovely families. Our thoughts are with those who have been affected and sending lots of aroha to you all."
1:52pm - Auckland councillor Chris Darby said paramedics are caring for the injured people.
"My heart goes out to the victims of this indiscriminate attack at Murrays Bay," Darby said.
"At this early stage Police are still working to confirm the exact number and nature of injuries.
"Rest assured though the attacker is in Police custody following their quick response and the brave intervention of a group of construction workers who foiled the attacker. Paramedics responded equally promptly and are caring for the those injured."
1:51pm - A woman who was on the beach at the time said police told her to run as fast as she could with her kids.
1:45pm - A large kitchen knife has been found at the scene. It's unclear whether it was used in the attack.
1:43pm - Waitematā District Commander superintendent Naila Hassan is providing an update on the stabbing at 2:45pm. The livestream will be in this article closer to the time.
1:40pm - A worker at Cafe Bay Bay in Murrays Bay told newshub a woman was stabbed in the bus stop opposite the cafe.
Mairangi Bay local Damien told Newshub an older woman was stabbed.
"An older Korean lady was stabbed. He [offender] was taken down by a construction worker, and a guy with crutches, they held him down until the police came," he said.
Another witness told Newshub the incident started in Murrays Bay and then moved to Mairangi Bay.
The woman was at the park on Sidmouth Street with her daughter when police swarmed the area.
"We were in the park and we heard a police car but we thought it was just going through the village. But then another woman screamed at me, 'Police have got guns' so I picked up my daughter and we ran.
"We were so scared of what was going on. It was pretty terrifying in the middle of the morning," she said.
Another witness told Newshub she was on Murrays Bay beach when armed officers told her to go inside as quickly as possible.
Another woman, who was walking her dog, told Stuff a man in a hoodie walked out of Seaton Avenue and started stabbing people.
She told Stuff the man chased a teenage girl who started screaming.
"He stabbed two people, totally random... it all happened very quickly," she said
North Shore MP Simon Watts said he was aware there had been a "stabbing".
"I know there has been a stabbing on the North Shore today. Multiple people have been injured, and my thoughts are with them and their families.
"An individual has been taken into custody by Police. There are road closures near Murrays Bay Sailing Club, and I encourage everyone to follow police instructions.
"Thank you to the Police, Ambulance and first responders for supporting our community today," Watts said.
Diversions are in place and people are asked to avoid the area. Police are providing an update at 2:45pm.
