Focus: Bay of Plenty Commander Superintendent Andy McGregor addressed the media after a fatal shooting ended the 15 hour standoff with the man, who had earlier threatened his partner with a knife before holding three children hostage all day. Video/Supplied
The man shot dead by police in Tauranga was "trying to turn his life around", a neighbour says.
Two young children were carried to safety by armed police moments after a man who had been holding them hostage inside a Bellevue house was shot dead.
The children, aged 4 and6, were taken out the front door and rushed to an ambulance following a 15-hour ordeal which began in the early hours of Sunday morning when the man threatened his partner with a knife.
Dramatic images of the children being rescued from the house emerged today.
The moment an armed offenders squad member rescues one of two children who had been held hostage for 15 hours.
Holloway said there was a strong police presence in the area and he said he saw armed police heading in and out of the property throughout the day.
At about 2.30pm, he said police started flying drones over the property and there was "a lot more movement from officers".
"We had only heard rumours of what was going on and when we found out kids were involved it became quite terrifying. I also have small children and I had seen these kids before."
Holloway said just after 3pm he saw the armed police head back around the property, followed by smashing glass and then gunfire.
"My wife and kids started crying as no one knew what had happened to the children," he said.
"Soon after we saw two officers come out with the kids and they were put straight into an ambulance."
