Police shoot man after woman's death

A police guard outside a property on The Esplanade, Westshore where a woman's body was found. Photo / Hawke's Bay Today

A man shot by police at a road block near Hastings on Sunday night had shot at police during a chase a short while earlier.

The chase was linked to the death of a woman whose body was found at a rented unit off The Esplanade at Westshore, north of Napier.

The man, 28, was in a serious but stable condition in Hawke's Bay Hospital.

At a short mid-afternoon media conference in Hastings, police Eastern District commander Superintendent Sandra Venables would not reveal the injuries, although an earlier media release said the man was shot by police.

While declining to reveal the relationship between the man and the woman, Ms Venables said no one else was being sought in relation to the death.

Police were, however, seeking any information which could be linked, including the man's movements between about 8.30pm and 11.10pm, when the events came to an end on State Highway 2 at Clive.

She would not reveal whether any suspect weapon had been found by police, and declined to answer several other questions, saying it was a "very early" stage of three inquiries into the events - a police criminal investigation, a internal policy practice and procedures investigation, and inquiries by the Independent Police Conduct Authority.

She also would not confirm whether police were aware of a body having been found at the Westshore house before the start of the pursuit, which began after police became aware of a man with a gun heading south out of Napier.

"We're unable to release the name of the victim at this stage, but our thoughts are with the families caught up in this tragic event," Ms Venables said.

"We are continuing to provide the families with the appropriate support as we continue to build a picture of what has occurred."

The woman who died is a mother of a young daughter.

Several neighbours of the woman gathered at a nearby house on The Esplanade this morning and some were visibly distressed by what had happened.

The group were effectively comforting each other.

Asked if she knew the couple one woman nodded but then said she did not want to talk about it.

A resident of one of the four units that are off the road front said she heard some noises but did not want to say anything else.

"I don't want to talk about it just now," she said.

A close neighbour said they needed time to themselves - to take in what had happened.

The victim was understood to be in her mid-20s.

The middle unit where the incident took place had a basketball hoop beside one wall and there appeared to be childrens' playthings nearby.

Road blocks were set up around the property after the Armed Offenders Squad were called out. Photo / Hawke's Bay Today

Clive residents reported hearing what sounded like an explosion and a vehicle moving so fast "it sounded like a rocket" during an armed incident in Clive late last night.

Residents spoken to by Hawke's Bay Today this morning reported being woken up after 11pm when gunshots were exchanged between a suspect and the Armed Offenders Squad.

One resident said he heard what sounded like an explosion, while another said she heard a vehicle speeding so fast down the road that it "sounded like a rocket".

Another woman reported seeing police lights flashing through her window after 11pm.

The woman said she saw police lights

Police said in a statement this morning that they were alerted after a report the man was later seen carrying a firearm and driving south out of Napier.

Hawke's Bay officers including Armed Offenders Squad staff set up road blocks and tracked the man for some time during which he shot at police.

He was stopped in central Clive about 11.10pm and there was an exchange of fire after he threatened officers.

Immediate medical attention was given to the wounded man by police and paramedics called to the scene.

A section of State Highway 2 in central Clive will stay closed today and diversions put in place for road users. This is to allow for a detailed scene examination to take place.

People are asked to use the alternative Farndon Road and Hawke's Bay Expressway.

Investigators and forensic specialists will also be at a property in The Esplanade, Westshore, where the body of a woman was found shortly after 9pm.

Superintendent Venables described last night's operation as difficult, dangerous and fast moving.

"We're unable to release the name of the victim at this stage but our thoughts are with the families caught up in this tragic event."

Police are urging commuters and other members of the public to avoid central Clive this morning as a scene examination gets under way following an armed incident last night.

The armed call out is over but Clive's main street and a section of SH2 remains closed while police undertake a detailed scene examination.