De Wattigna said the man was challenged to get out of the vehicle. He then presented a firearm at the police officers.
He failed to put the firearm down and police shot him.
He was removed from the vehicle and first aid given immediately but died by the time an ambulance arrived.
Police located a cut down .22 rifle dropped by the male outside the vehicle.
De Wattigna said it was an extremely distressing incident for all concerned.
Four officers attending the incident have been given downtime for 10 days, he said.
De Wattigna couldn't say how many shots were fired.
Nor could he comment on the man's mental state, other than saying police had received reports he was in distress.
Police still needed to formally identify him, de Wattignar said.
A contractor who was working at the man's house yesterday said the man had an argument with his partner.
"He was just kind of storming around," the man told Stuff.
The man threw something on to the back of the contractor's truck.
"The next minute my truck is driving straight past me. I said 'what are you doing' and he just gave me the thumbs up and drove off."
The partner told the contractor she was on the phone to the mental health crisis team. Police arrived at the property a short time later.
Waitara Community Board deputy chairman Joe Rauner told Stuff the dead man had played rugby league for the Waitara Bears and Taranaki Sharks.
"The town is a little bit shocked at the moment, it's the last thing that we need.
"He's a guy who just keeps to himself, away from everybody and does his own thing."
