17 Jul 2011

Gunman shot dead in hostage drama

5:28 am on 17 July 2011

Police in Taranaki have confirmed that the gunman at the centre of an armed offenders standoff in the coastal township of Opunake has been shot dead by police. He has been named as Anthony Ratahi, 46, of Stratford.

A knife was found near his body but no firearms have yet been recovered.

According to police, the drama began when Ratahi walked into a restaurant at the Headlands Hotel late at about 10.45pm on Friday and began talking to a woman who was known to him.

A short time later, they say, he produced what appeared to be a hand gun, grabbed hold of the woman he had been speaking with and shouted to the patrons to leave.

The police account says Ratahi then barricaded himself into the building holding the female victim hostage.

All-night drama sees some residents evacuted

The hotel was surrounded by members of the Taranaki armed offenders squad and the special tactics unit from Auckland.

A handful of neighbouring houses were evacuated and other residents in the area were ordered to lock themselves in their homes.

Negotiations between police and the man continued on-and-off throughout the night mainly by phone.

He is said by police to have remained agitated and uncooperative throughout.

At approximately 10.20am on Saturday police say they made contact with Ratahi when he stepped outside the hotel.

In a statement, Acting District Commander Pat Handcock said:

"It is very early in the investigation so I am not prepared at this stage to discuss in detail the circumstances of the shooting.

''I am able to confirm that the man was challenged, a dog deployed, there was a struggle and police discharged a firearm."

He said Ratahi was known to them.

Female hostage had minor injuries

The female victim, who is a local woman in her 30s, has minor injuries and was checked out by ambulance staff. She has been interviewed by police.

Police say the scene has been cordoned off and is likely to remain so for a day or two so that a full scene examination can be completed.

Police have launched three independent investigations, including into the circumstances around the police shooting.

The Independent Police Complaints Authority has been informed and will launch its own investigation.

One resident told Radio New Zealand that Anthony Ratahi should have been imprisoned following what he says was an earlier armed offenders incident.