The couple at the centre of a police shooting in Waihi on Monday have strong Rotorua connections.
Waikato police communications manager Andrew McAlley said the 19-year-old man shot by police was in a stable condition in Waikato Hospital's intensive care unit.
The alleged driver, Rotorua woman Yana Poata, 18, has been remanded
in custody until she reappears in the Tauranga District Court on Friday.
"They both have connections to Rotorua and Tauranga and spend time in both cities so it would be fair to say they are Bay of Plenty residents," Mr McAlley said.
Explosives in the stolen van have been identified.
However, police have declined to reveal the nature or quantity of the explosives.
Police investigating the events leading up to the shooting are appealing for further information.
Detective Inspector Pete Devoy of Hamilton said police want to hear from anyone who may have seen or heard shots fired during the chase. "We recovered a number of spent .22 calibre cartridges during a search of the van which indicate shots were fired from the vehicle," Mr Devoy said. The second in command of Operation Kenny, Detective Senior Sergeant Greg Nicholls, said new information received suggests the gunman hadn't only shot at police.
"We're looking into the possibility shots may have been fired from the van as it went through Katikati and we're not ruling out if any more were fired before that," he said.
After Landscape Drive in Ngongotaha about 12.30pm the van drove to Tauranga via Tauranga Direct Rd.
Police followed the van along SH2 from Tauranga to Waihi before it stopped about 2.35pm.
During the pursuit shots were allegedly fired at police by the 19-year-old man, who was a front-seat passenger in the van.
In Waihi the van was diverted off SH2 onto Gilmour St where three of its tyres were punctured by road spikes before it was driven onto Seddon St.
The van then travelled in a loop via Baber St, Johnston St, Rosemont Rd and into Kenny St before heading back onto Seddon Ave via Devon St.
- DAILY POST
