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The incident has closed part of State Highway 11 in Northland (file photo).
Two men reportedly shot a Northland police officer in the early hours of Tuesday.
Northland District Commander Superintendent Tony Hill said that around 4.15am, a car pulled up in front of a police car and pulled up in the middle of the road on State Highway 11 near the Puketona junction with SH10 .
Before the police officer could get out of his car, two men allegedly got out of his car and presented firearms.
“The officer withdrew immediately, but a shot was fired at the vehicle damaging the windshield,” Hill said.
“Fortunately, our officer was not injured, and they quickly left the scene and called for reinforcements.”
Hill said a team is working to identify and locate the car and the men believed to be involved in the “extremely serious incident.”
Hill said it was a “great relief” that the officer was not injured, but that the incident showed how unpredictable and dangerous the job could be.
“It is completely unacceptable for someone to shoot a police officer in this way, and we are very lucky that they were not seriously injured or worse.
“We will do everything possible to locate these criminals and hold them accountable.
“People must remember that every day when our staff come to work, they leave their families behind. They do this to keep our communities safe and the last thing they deserve is to be shot. “
The incident has closed part of the road.
At 6 am, the Waka Kotahi NZ transportation agency said that the “police problem” had closed a section of State Highway 11 from Puketona Junction to Haruru.
A staff member at a nearby cafe said motorists weren’t being let down by Puketona Rd / SH11.
As of 7:40 a.m., no police had arrived to speak to them, he said.
The staff member said that he had seen police in the area around 5 a.m. stopping traffic, but that job had since been turned over to traffic control workers.
NZTA asked motorists to use SH1 and SH10 to and from Paihia.
“Please delay your trip or use an alternate route.”
The agency says it is not known when the highway will reopen.
Anyone with information should contact Kerikeri Police at 105.
Alternatively, the information can be provided anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
