Man shot by Police following seige

Police have launched three independent investigations following a hostage situation overnight which has resulted in a man being shot and killed.

The incident began around 10.45pm when a 46-year-old man went into the restaurant at the Headlands Hotel at the intersection of Havelock Street and Fox Street, Opunake. There were in the region of 10 to 16 patrons in the restaurant at the time and the man approached a member of female staff, who was known to him, and engaged her in conversation.

A short time later the man produced a handgun, grabbed hold of the woman he had been speaking with and shouted to the patrons to leave.

He then barricaded himself into the building holding the female victim hostage. Negotiations between Police and the man continued on-and-off throughout the night mainly by phone. The man remained agitated and uncooperative throughout.

Approximately 10.20 this morning Police made contact with the man when he stepped outside of the hotel.

Acting District Commander Pat Handcock said: "It is very early in the investigation so I am not prepared at this stage to discuss in detail the circumstances of the shooting. I am able to confirm that the man was challenged, a dog deployed, there was a struggle and Police discharged a firearm."

The man died at the scene. The female victim who is a local woman in her 30s was checked out by ambulance. She did not require hospital treatment but Police have made arrangements for her to be checked out by a doctor as she has suffered minor injuries. She will be spoken to in detail over the next few days to ascertain in detail what happened in the hotel during the night.

The scene has been cordoned off and is likely to remain so for a day or two so that a full scene examination can be completed. Full statements will be taken from witnesses over the coming days.

There will now be three separate investigations completed by Police. One team will focus on the incident that occurred last night and the actions of the deceased. A second investigation will independently look at the actions of Police, which is a matter of course when a Police firearm has been discharged and resulted in a death. A third element will be to look at the general Police policies and procedures. Once again this a matter of course when there has been a Police shooting.

Those investigations will be overseen by Detective Superintendent Andrew Lovelock.

Police have also made contact with the IPCA and they have appointed an investigator.

Insp Handcock said: "It is required by law that we complete three separate investigations. This ensures that the integrity of the Police process is protected and remains transparent and the public is appropriately kept informed."

The man shot by Police was Anthony Ratahi, aged 46, from Stratford.