Police have confirmed the name of the 30-year-old who they fatally shot after a family harm incident on Tuesday.
Police cars outside the property in Newlands in Wellington. Photo:
He was Samuel Fakalago, who was from Auckland.
Police were called to a property in the Wellington suburb of Newlands around 3pm on the day of the shooting.
Acting Wellington District Commander Inspector Tracey Thompson said when they arrived a man - now identified by police as Fakalago -was holding a knife to a woman's throat. A child was also inside the house at the time.
When Fakalago failed to respond to instructions to put down the knife and give himself up, he was shot several times.
Today Thompson said: "This is an understandably difficult time for Mr Fakalago's whānau, who are grieving the loss of their loved one, and we want them to know they have our deepest sympathies."
She said the scene examination of the property in Kingsbridge Place was continuing, however, cordons have been reduced.
A post mortem has taken place today and the formal identification process has been completed.
"I also want to acknowledge this incident has been incredibly traumatic for the police officers involved," Thompson said.
"A fatal shooting is an outcome nobody wants and will have significant long-lasting impacts on both the officers involved and their families."
Those staff who attended were being supported by police welfare services and their colleagues.
Acting Wellington District Commander Inspector Tracey Thompson has expressed her sympathy for Samuel Fakalago's whānau. Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver