Statement from Acting Commissioner, Mike Clement:
While Police staff work in a dynamic and at times dangerous environment, it is always distressing to us all when officers are injured while doing their duty to keep the community safe.
Police are still building a picture of the events around today's incident, but here is some information we can provide:
At around 10.45am today, three shots were heard by Police staff who were in the Otakiri, Bay Of Plenty, area on an operation involving the use of aircraft.
At around 11.30am, another shot was fired at an aircraft being used by Police and armed Police staff then cordoned a rural property in Onepu Springs Road, Otakiri, about 70km from Rotorua.
AOS staff were then deployed from Rotorua and were in place at the address shortly after 1pm.
At around 3.45pm it was confirmed that three Police officers had been shot and injured at the address.
Our priority was then to ensure the safety of these injured staff and they were safely removed from the addresss and were transported to hospitals in Whakatane and Rotorua.
Two of the officers are in stable condition, a third is in a serious condition in hospital.
Following this event, a fourth officer also received a gunshot injury to their hand in a separate incident at the scene. He is currently receiving medical treatment.
Police are continuing to cordon and contain the situation, and we have more specialist armed staff on their way to assist. At this stage it is assumed that the alleged offender is still inside this address.
We have asked the New Zealand Defence Force for assistance and they have provided one NH-90 tactical lift helicopter and three Light Armoured Vehicles (LAVs).
In addition a no-fly zone is in place around the scene.
We are also providing close support to the injured officers and their families, and our thoughts are with them.
I can assure the public that there will be full and detailed investigation into today’s events. Members of the public are advised to avoid the area as there are a number of cordons in place.
The IPCA will also be advised.
ENDS