Reports Two Police Officers Shot In Bay Of Plenty

• Four cops were shot during an armed incident
  
• One gunman was believed to be involved
  
• A large police operation is underway
  
• Earlier shots were fired at a police plane flying over the area
  
• Nearby residents are concerned

A rescue chopper and police helicopter have just landed at the end of the road.

About 12 AOS members are at an AOS van about 200m from the cordons and appear to be getting ready to make a move.

A woman yelled "they want to shoot him" at a police cordon in Eastern Bay of Plenty where four officers were shot and injured this afternoon.

The woman, who is believed to know the armed offender, was yelling at the cordon on Onepu Spring Rd near Kawerau: "They want to shoot him, that's why they won't let us in.

Two men who had been waiting at the cordons have been taken down the road on foot by police.

The men had been with the woman who had earlier been yelling at police. She remained in a car.

Armed police swarmed to the rural property about 3pm.

Acting Police Commissioner Mike Clement addressed media this afternoon at Police National Headquarters in Wellington.

He confirmed just one gunman was believed to be involved in today's shooting of four police officers.

One officer was in a serious but stable condition in Rotorua Hospital, and two more were in stable condition in Whakatane Hospital.

A fourth officer was being treated for a gunshot wound to his hand.

The incident unfolded when members of the Armed Offenders Squad attended a call out near Kawerau today.

Mr Clement said officers were continuing to cordon and contain the situation.

Police are supporting the injured officers and their families, Mr Clement said.

A full and detailed investigation into the events would be held, he said.

Police Minister Judith Collins said a shotgun was used - and all the officers shot were members of the Armed Offenders Squad, all of whom were fully kitted up.

Police Minister Judith Collins intends to visit the injured officers and their families with the Acting Commissioner or Deputy Police Commissioner on Thursday if they are in a condition to see her.

She said all the injured officers were with the Armed Offenders' Squad and had been armed and wearing protective vests. "I just say to people who have been concerned about the arming of Police, these officers were armed and fully kitted out in the body armour the AOS use, and still you end up with injuries."

The scene was still unfolding and Ms Collins said she was being updated by Acting Police Commissioner Mike Clement.

"My concern is around the welfare of the Police and their families. I have full confidence in the Police to run their own operation. There's nothing much other than giving support that I can do, but I am fully confident in their ability to deal with it."

She said four of the Armed Offenders' Squad were injured, including one seriously who was in a stable condition.

A Whakatane business owner told TVNZ somebody was running around earlier "taking pot shots" at a police spotter plane that was searching for cannabis plants.

Video footage from the scene shows road blocks at both ends with at least 10 police cars, lights flashing, and armed police manning a cordon.

Ambulance was also at the scene.

The woman at the cordon shouted angrily at police: "I want us to be able to go in and get him. He is not going to shoot at us. You fellas (police) are going to go in there with your guns and protect yourselves.

"I want these guys (two men with her) to help me go and get him out."The Whakatane Beacon reported that police were searching cars as they left the area.

A driver told the Beacon the police were searching for a gun, and taking note of people's names and addresses.

An Onepu Spring Rd resident, who asked not to be named, said she had seen a helicopter overhead but the area immediately around her house was otherwise undisturbed by the incident.

The woman said she couldn't see or hear anything from her house, which was about halfway down the road and inside the roadblock.

She had chosen to remain inside her house and hadn't felt the need to evacuate.

"We didn't have to leave but other people have left and now they can't get back in," she told the Herald.

Bay of Plenty DHB spokeswoman Diana Marriott said two Rotorua officers, aged 38 and 43, were brought to Whakatane Hospital at 4.15pm.

A third officer was flown to Rotorua Hospital in Rotorua by the BayTrust Rescue Helicopter.

A local woman contacted the Herald saying she was scared by what was happening.

"I have just come home from work and it's literally across the river from my house," she said.

"Have they caught the offenders, kinda scary not knowing what's going on."

Another Onepu Spring Rd resident said it was normally a quiet little rural road.

Police Association President Greg O'Connor said there was shock around the policing community.

He didn't know details about the officers' injuries or what had happened.

"All I can say is no officers will be surprised by this. We've been saying for some time that there are more offenders carrying guns."

He wouldn't comment on whether he hoped this incident would reignite discussion about the need for front-line officers to be armed.

"It's too early to say. Three officers have been shot; they are the priority."

People are advised to avoid the area.

Kawerau mayor Malcolm Campbell said he knew the property involved in the police operation.

"I think I know who he is but until I find out what's going on I can't really comment more."

Kawerau District Councillor Faylene Tunui said she was supporting her family members who lived on Onepu Springs Rd who were unable to return to their house because of the police road block.

She said they were not sure which house it had occurred at.

"I just encourage the community not to speculate. This is a really sad situation for the police. I just hope it is resolved soon."

She said there would be full fish and chip shops around Kawerau tonight with residents who were unable to return home.

- NZ Herald