Police comb huge area in hunt for gunman

Armed Offenders Squad police officers search farmland near Norsewood for the gunman. They want to speak to David Bourke (inset) over the incident. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Police are this morning resuming their search for a gunman who shot at two people - one a policeman - and fled, leaving a dead body in his car.

Police have been combing a 3000ha area of southern Hawkes Bay for Wanganui freezing worker David John Bourke, who they say opened fire at the police officer, then shot a farm hand in the shoulder.

The body of a middle-aged man, who hasn't been identified, was found on the back seat of Bourke's crashed Honda Rafaga on State Highway 2 north of Norsewood, between Waipukurau and Dannevirke, on Sunday afternoon.

A homicide inquiry has begun, and results of a post-mortem examination of the body are expected this morning.

Operations Manager, Inspector David White said police maintained their cordons in the Norsewood, Ormondville and Takapau areas overnight.

"The ground and air search will recommence this morning at first light using both the Special Tactics Group and Armed Offenders Squad," Inspector White said.

"Our focus is still very much on locating and speaking with David Bourke," he said.

"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."

Central Districts Commander Russell Gibson said armed police squads from throughout the lower North Island yesterday searched a 3000ha area between Norsewood, Ormandville and Takapau.

"This is a huge area we are working to clear," he said. "We are doing this as quickly as possible, but we are mindful this is a potentially dangerous situation and are treating it accordingly."

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

Police have warned that Bourke should not be approached, and have offered local farmers armed escorts if they need to check stock.

Mr Gibson said police were optimistic he was still in the area. Items of Bourke's clothing had been found near a riverbank.

The fugitive shot at police on Sunday afternoon after fleeing them when he failed an alcohol breath test.

He then met farm hand Chad Hinga who drove over to him with his cousin.

Mr Hinga asked the man what he was doing and was told "shooting rabbits".

Mr Hinga told TVNZ's Close Up he was then shot in the shoulder, but didn't realise he'd been hit until he saw blood flowing from the wound.

"He looked quite normal, he just didn't want to be stopped."

His partner, Gemma, was hiding at home only 100m away with their one-month-old baby, Isaiah, and saw the shooting.

She locked the doors and remained silent as Bourke walked up the driveway and knocked on the door.

Brad Wells, 17, described the moment he saw his friend shot.

"I saw the guy pull the gun up and point it at him. He didn't shoot straight away ...

"I saw the muzzle blast before I heard the shot. Chad and his cousin jumped back in the car and drove off."

After the shooting the gunman didn't run away, instead walking calmly towards the house, he said.

Armed police were guarding Bourke's house in Harper St, Gonville, where he is understood to have lived with his adult children.

It was being treated as a crime scene because police did not know where the middle-aged man died.

One of Bourke's neighbours was shocked to hear he had been involved in a shooting because, she said, he seemed a calm person.