Actor shot by police in Auckland

GAIL SELKIRK/Fairfax GAIL SELKIRK/Fairfax

SURROUNDED: Police have cordoned off the area in Point Chevalier where a man was shot during an altercation with police.

EVIDENCE: Police investigate the scene of the Smale Rd shooting.

SHOOTING: Police near the scene of today's shooting.

CORDON: The scene of today's shooting at Point Chevalier.

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Smale St, Pt Chevalier, Auckland

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Armed man shot by police

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A man, understood to be actor Rob Mokaraka, is in stable condition after being shot in the chest by Auckland police.

The 36-year-old man allegedly threatened police with a meat cleaver and two knives. They had been called to an address in suburban Point Chevalier around 1pm after the man was seen with a weapon.

3news reported Mokoraka said "I'm sorry, bro," as police attended to him.

Mokaraka has been a stage actor for 13 years and his TV credits include stints on the comedy Love Bites and the dramas Questions and Mataku. He has appeared in short films including The Freezer and Tama Tu.

The shot man is now in Auckland Hospital after three hours of surgery to remove the bullet from his chest wound, and police say his condition is stable.

He was taken to hospital by ambulance after being shot by a police officer who was at a "forward observation point", while other officers who had attended the 111 call had retreated further away from the property.

It's believed the man was the only occupant of the Smale St property at the time.

At a police press conference this afternoon, Superintendant George Fraser said the man had advanced on the police, armed with a meat cleaver and two knives. Police were orginally called to the scene by a concerned neighbour.

Mr Fraser said the Armed Offender's Squad was being deployed from Auckland Central Police Station when the man left the house and advanced on police.

"A taser and qualified operator had also been requested to attend the incident and was en route at the time of the shooting," Mr Fraser said.

"A 111 call requesting Police attendance was made from a neighbouring address when the caller expressed concerns for his safety. We are investigating who made that call and what exactly happened at the address before and while Police were there."

Smale St resident Leah Winsley said she had just returned to her home after picking her children up, "when I saw a whole lot of cops sprinting down the road. Just after that I heard a gunshot".

Mrs Winsley said the incident had unfolded just outside her friend's house. She called her friend and was told: "The man had what looked like a meat cleaver and he was waving it around. In his other arm he had a towel which looked like it could have been concealing a gun". 

Her friend told her that police had tried to reason with the man for a long time.

"The police gave him lots of opportunities to calm down. It sounds like he did for a while, but then he made a lunge at one of the cops and they shot him."

Mrs Winsley later saw the man's body being stretchered into a waiting ambulance.

It is understood the scene and all weapons involved have now been secured. A black handled 20cm long knife, white t-shirt and a green sports bag can be seen lying on the road, next to police evidence markers.

The Police Dog Section cleared the house the injured man came from.  It was believed he was the only occupant of the property at the time of the shooting.

The Independent Police Conduct Authority has been notified of the incident and a full police investigation is underway.

Police have located several members of the man's family and have spoken to several witnesses to this afternoon's events.

- © Fairfax NZ News