9:00 AM
An Upper Hutt woman has died after being stabbed in front of her children at a picnic reserve in Wellington's Kaitoke Park.
Police said a man drove into the camp area, got out of his car and repeatedly stabbed 34-year-old Tracey Maria Patmore, who was at the park
with her four children.
Despite the intervention of bystanders, the woman died at the scene.
The man then grabbed the youngest child and made off in his car, prompting a police chase and the call-out of the armed offenders squad.
A chase continued for about half an hour, until the attacker was finally apprehended near Waikanae. No shots were fired by police.
The snatched child was later reunited with other family members.
A 31-year-old Upper Hutt man was being questioned last night.
- IRN
