Tragedy hits Taumarunui

DEVELOPING STORY: Armed police have arrested someone following a tragedy which saw a town being fully closed off to public...

Armed police officers are have arrested a man in the central North Island township of Taumarunui following gunshots.

Police say an individual shot at several members of the public.

It is believed the incident began in nearby Manunui, where a man is said to have approached a house and asked to use a telephone.

After the resident declined, the individual threatened him with a knife before stealing a vehicle on the property. He then returned to the address 15 minutes later and threatened the family with a gun.

From there the individual is said to have travelled to two petrol stations, stealing petrol from one and holding a man at knifepoint at another, before travelling to a hardware store where he is said to have shot three people.

The condition of those people is unknown.

Police have established a cordon on the Hakiaha Street, the town’s main road, and residents were told to stay indoors as a helicopter assisted in the search for the individual.

An earlier report of three people being shot was provided by a witness and was not confirmed by police.

3NEWS