Hawkes Bay gunman fights with police during arrest

The suspect at the centre of a two-day long manhunt presented a shotgun at officers as they arrested him in southern Hawkes Bay today, police say.

Police had alleged David John Bourke, 46, opened fire at a police officer after failing a breath test on Sunday, then fled, shooting a farmhand in the shoulder while on the run.

The body of a middle-aged man was later found on the back seat of Bourke's crashed car and a homicide inquiry was launched.

Members of the armed offenders squad this morning found Bourke at a golf course on Kopua Road, near Norsewood, at 10.40am, ending a massive search.

Central District Commander Russell Gibson said Bourke was found in a toilet block at the course and while there was a struggle during the arrest, no shots were fired.

"When confronted by the Armed Offenders Squad, he presented a shotgun. A struggle ensued and he was arrested," Mr Gibson said.

It is understood the two officers arrested him after a physical confrontation in which he tried to present the firearm.

Superintendent Gibson said the two officers came across Bourke as part of their ongoing search of the cordoned area.

Asked why the officers did not use their weapons, given Bourke was armed, Superintendent Gibson said details were scant but he presumed the officers were confident enough to approach him.

Bourke will appear in court tomorrow. It is understood he was taken straight to Palmerston North in an ambulance suffering from hypothermia. He had no other injuries.

Mr Gibson would give few details and would not identify the dead man found in the car.

Nor would he specify what the article belonging to Bourke found by police yesterday was.

He declined to comment when asked if it was Bourke's asthma inhaler.

Superintendent Gibson said it was testament to the professionalism of the police officers that they were able to arrest Bourke without shots being fired.

The elite special tactics group were in involved in the operation.

He said it was regular Armed Offenders Squad officers who arrested Bourke.

Police spent the past two days combing a 3000ha area of southern Hawkes Bay.

Operations Manager Inspector David White said police maintained their cordons in the Norsewood, Ormondville and Takapau areas overnight, believing Bourke was inside the cordon area.

"I would like to personally thank the local community who have been so supportive and generous bringing our staff at the cordons hot food and drinks. They have appreciated this as the weather has been atrocious at times."

Officers spent yesterday clearing outhouses, barns and farmsheds on the chance that Bourke could be sheltering in them from the cold weather.

- With NZPA, NZHERALD STAFF