A man involved in an armed standoff with police at a house in Auckland is in a critical condition after shooting himself, police say.
Police were called to the scene in the South Auckland suburb about 6am. Photo: RNZ / Tom Furley
Police, including the Armed Offenders Squad (AOS), were called to the house on Sutton Crescent in the southern suburb of Papakura shortly after 6am.
A woman had fled the property, alleging the man had seriously assaulted her.
Inspector Dave Lynch said negotiators spent most of the morning trying to get three children - aged 14, seven and four - safely out.
The children were released about lunchtime and a shot was heard about 1.30pm.
Police entered to find the man with a firearm injury, Mr Lynch said. Police did not fire any shots.
The man was taken to Middlemore Hospital in a critical condition.
The investigation was ongoing and no charges had been laid, he said.
The cordon around the area had been taken down, after being up for much of the day.
A man inside the police cordon, Amit Singh, said residents had been asked to stay inside during the operation.
