Bravery praised after battle with armed intruder

A man who recently moved to New Zealand has been praised for his "brave actions" after he and his family became victims of a home invasion.

The man, his wife and child were woken on Saturday night by a knock at the door of their Waiau Beach home, northwest of Pukekohe.

When the woman went to the door, a partially masked intruder was standing there, holding a loaded rifle.

He burst into the house, demanding keys to the family's car.

Sergeant Noel Foster said that the husband, unwilling to accept what was happening, tried to wrestle the rifle out of the intruder's hands.

"I think the instincts of the man at the start were just that, instincts. He was trying to protect his family," said Mr Foster.

As the terrified woman called the police, the struggle between her husband and the intruder spilled outside. A neighbour, who heard the family's screams, came to help.

Mr Foster said the two men managed to fell the intruder, who was still clutching the firearm, and hold him on the ground until police arrived.

"For all intents and purposes they were fighting for their lives. It's very fortunate it ended the way it did."

The intruder received some minor injuries during the struggle but no one else was hurt.

Although police usually advise people to wait for police assistance, Mr Foster said the two men did a wonderful job of averting a potentially very serious incident.

"It was brilliant that the neighbour was able to hear [the screams] and give assistance. It was also brave action by the householder."

The family are believed to have moved only recently to Waiau Beach, near Clarks Beach, after coming from Britain this year.

A 15-year-old is due to appear in the Pukekohe District Court today charged with aggravated burglary and firearm-related offences.