\u201cResponding officers were told that a firearm had been discharged at the address and, when they arrived, four people were found with wounds that are consistent with being shot,\u201d Manawat\u016b Area Commander Inspector Ross Grantham said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAn adult woman and two older teenage males were located with critical injuries. The woman was taken to Palmerston North Hospital by ambulance and the two males flown to Wellington Hospital.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnother young person who was at the address is physically unharmed and they are being given wrap-around support.\u201d<\/p>\n
Grantham said a firearm was located at the scene and a forensic examination of the property would begin today.<\/p>\n
While the police were not looking for anyone else, officers will stay at the scene while the investigation progresses.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a shocking incident for Wait\u0101rere Beach and the district. This was a confronting scene, and I want to acknowledge the emergency personnel who responded to the call for help.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are still in the very early stages of our enquiries, but we are focused on understanding how and why this tragic event occurred,\u201d Inspector Grantham said.<\/p>\n
Information would be released proactively when it became available.<\/p>\n
The only road in and out of the small beachside community is closed. Residents say they are still able to enter and exit the township with traffic controls in place. <\/p>\n
A St John spokesman confirmed they were called to the scene at 12.41am, sending two ambulances, two rapid response vehicles, two helicopters and an operations manager. He referred all other questions to police.<\/p>\n
Just before 2am, NZTA was warning road users to avoid the intersection of Wait\u0101rere Beach Rd and State Highway 1 due to a \u201cpolice incident\u201d, and to delay their journeys if possible until further notice. SH1 was not affected by the closure.<\/p>\n
Fire and Emergency central shift manager Belinda Beets said the service was called to help St John with a landing zone for the helicopters.<\/p>\n
She was unable to provide further details.<\/p>\n
More to come<\/p>\n