Man shot by police still critical

An officer lifts the cordon around the scene of the Wednesday police shooting near Otane . Photo / Warren Buckland

The man shot by police in Hawke's Bay on Wednesday night remains in a critical condition in hospital.

The 48-year-old was flown to Christchurch Hospital yesterday.

He was shot once in the torso by police after they say he threatened to kill officers and blow them up with a grenade.

The man had been sought by police in connection to a number of offences, including domestic assault, home invasion and trying to ram a police car.

Eastern District Commander Superintendent Sam Hoyle yesterday said police had considered him armed and dangerous.

He said there were two officers in the car when the man approached and allegedly told one of the officers he had a gun and was going to kill him. As he advanced on the officer he was concealing something in his sweatshirt pocket.

Mr Hoyle said the officer backed off from the man, warning him several times to show his hands and that police were armed, before the officer fired the single shot.

Eastern District police spokeswoman Kris McGehan confirmed yesterday the man was not armed.

The Independent Police Complaints Authority has been advised of the shooting and a criminal investigation will be run by senior police officers from outside the Eastern District.