A 29-year-old east Auckland man has been fatally shot by police after coming towards officers with a machete.
He was shot near Pohuehue, north of Auckland, early this morning.
Waitemata District Commander Superintendent Tusha Penny told media the shooting was related to an earlier police callout at a property in Onehunga.
A female called police to report a person known to her had been acting erratically. She left the scene because she feared for her safety.
Police were sent to the property about 3.10am, however no people or vehicles were there when they arrived.
About 20 minutes later, a rural police officer heading home from a shift saw a car pulled over with its hazard lights on State Highway 1, north of Auckland.
However, the car quickly drove off. The police car followed and the car then stopped again.
Police said as the officer was about to get out of his vehicle the driver of the car got out and came around to the driver's door of the police car, wielding a machete and threatening the officer.
The officer quickly moved away and called for backup. The officer watched the offender from a safe distance.
The alleged offender then got back into his car and headed south on SH1 towards Puhoi.
Additional police resources, including the Eagle helicopter, were called on to help.
The driver was believed to have been travelling at speeds of up to 150km/h and at times with lights off, Penny said.
Police placed spikes on the road, which successfully stopped the vehicle near Mahurangi West Rd about 3.50am.
As the first officers got out of the police car, the man, still armed with a machete, approached police again.
Police fired shots as he came towards them. Officers immediately started first aid and called an ambulance, but the man died at the scene.
The man is from east Auckland, but police will not be able to release his name until he has been formally identified and next of kin informed, said Penny.
She was not able to confirm whether the dead man was known to police.
This is a tragedy," said Penny.
"We have ensured that Victim Support is available to [the man's family] and we will support them through this process.
"We are also ensuring that the staff involved are being supported. No police officer comes to work wanting to end up in a situation like this."
The welfare of the officers involved is paramount, Penny said, and police are ensuring they're cared for.
"Every day police staff deal with situations that are complex, dynamic and fast changing. Our staff have to make split second decisions, in situations where there is risk to their lives and members of the public," she said.
Three inquiries into the shooting are under way - one criminal to establish whether any crime was committed, another to look at policy and practice within the police, and the final an investigation by the Independent Police Conduct Authority.
The death has been referred to the Coroner. Police are conducting a scene examination.
