A man has been killed in Canterbury after he drove into an officer, and then was shot, say police.
Police cordoned off the road near the shooting in Darfield. Photo: RNZ
Police received reports at about 4pm that a man had threatened a family member at a house in Darfield with a firearm, Canterbury District Commander John Price said.
Calls to 111 were made by the family member and by members of the public.
A family member who remained inside the house reported that the man had shot a gun a number of times outside the house, Superintendent Price said.
The man was reported to have shot at the door to try to get back into the house.
Police, including the Armed Offenders Squad, responded immediately to the callout and arrived at the house in Bangor Rd just after 4pm.
On arrival, officers saw a man getting into a vehicle and leaving the property. Two officers attempted to stop the vehicle using road spikes.
As the officers were laying the road spikes, the man drove the vehicle toward one of the officers, hitting him and causing a serious leg injury, Superintendent Price said.
Police then shot at the driver, he said.
The man was found dead in his car on Bangor Rd a short time later.
The circumstances of the man's death were unclear at this stage and police would not comment further until more inquiries, including a post mortem and scene examination, had taken place.
The officer who was hit by the car was admitted to hospital and is undergoing surgery.
"This has been an extremely traumatic event, both for the man's family and for the officers involved," Superintendent Price said.
Witnesses at the scene described seeing a body on the road at about 6.30pm.
St John Ambulance was called to the scene just after 4pm.
Selwyn District councillor John Morton, who lives close to where the shooting took place, said it was a very unusual incident.
Police are working to ensure all those involved receive support.