Focus: Bay of Plenty Commander Superintendent Andy McGregor addressed the media after a fatal shooting ended the 15 hour standoff with the man, who had earlier threatened his partner with a knife before holding three children hostage all day. Video/Supplied
One bullet ended 15 hours of terror in Tauranga where two children were held hostage by a man with a machete.
It also ended the life of the man holding them captive, whose family and neighbours believe had been turning his fortunes around.
Police yesterday defended Sunday afternoon's raid, when they stormed a house in the suburb of Bellevue and shot dead the man holding two children, aged 4 and 6, hostage.
Police maintain they had no choice but to shoot the man after he threatened the children and confronted police. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Yesterday police forensic and criminal investigators worked in the white two-storey house where the body of the man still lay.
Shortly after, police held up a silver tarpaulin to shield a woman and two children from view as they arrived at the address.
The group sang in te reo Māori as the hearse readied to leave the home.
Tauranga Mayor Tenby Powell yesterday met relatives of the man, who he said were "really upset".
"They had lost a brother. A mother had lost a son.
"They were sad. They believed he was getting his life on track."
Powell said he hoped to help the family feel "less alone" and extend them support and empathy, as he hoped the rest of the community would also do.
"At times like this, we need to rally around each other."
A Bay of Plenty District Health Board spokeswoman confirmed the two children taken to Tauranga Hospital were released later on Sunday night. They were not injured in the ordeal.
In videos of police entering the house, nine loud bangs could be heard in quick succession.
A scene guard and forensic investigator outside the Oriana Cresc house on Monday. Photo / George Novak
"There was a bang, bang, bang, then a slight pause and then bang, bang, bang again," one resident said.
Another described "bullets coming through the roof". But police say they fired only one shot.
"We understand residents have reported hearing multiple shots being fired," a spokesperson said.
"This was likely to have been distraction devices, which were deployed twice upon police entry and which can produce a sound similar to rapid gunfire."
Investigations into the full circumstances of the incident have started, with the Independent Police Conduct Authority confirming yesterday that it was also likely to start an inquiry.
Former police negotiator Lance Burdett said: "The first [consideration] is, 'how can we get everyone out safely?', and then we'll work back from there. They'll be trying to touch base to talk with the person, to de-escalate the situation and come to a peaceful conclusion, and that's what the main aim is," Burdett said.
A member of the Armed Offenders Squad exits the house with a little girl in his arms. Screenshot / Supplied
"From the little I know about this — is it a successful outcome?
"Probably not, because we try to get people out as safely as possible. But looking at the whole outcome, it's the best that could be hoped as it was an intense situation."
One person who lived near the shooting said the man had been "trying to turn his life around" after a stint in prison.
She said the children at the centre of the hostage situation went to school with her children.
The neighbour used to see the man, whom police have not named, walking the children to school.
Her friend who used to live next to the man knew him well and he had reached out to her last week.
Marsh Holloway said he lived four houses down from the property.
"We had only heard rumours of what was going on and when we found out kids were involved it became quite terrifying. I also have small children and I had seen these kids before."
Holloway said that just after 3pm he saw the armed police head back around the property, followed by smashing glass and then gunfire.
"My wife and kids started crying as no one knew what had happened to the children," he said.
"Soon after we saw two officers come out with the kids and they were put straight into an ambulance."
Holloway said neighbours were relieved to see the children were safe.
