Police are defending the actions of an officer who shot and killed a man in Porirua who was approaching in a threatening manner with a machete in hand.

The 44-year-old man was shot once in the shoulder about 12.30am Sunday and died in an ambulance on his way to Wellington Hospital.

Do you know more about this incident? Email newstips@stuff.co.nz

CAMERON BURNELL/FAIRFAX NZ Police gather at the service lane near where the shooting happened.

Acting district commander for Wellington, Superintendent Steve Kehoe, said the male officer fired the fatal shot at Mana Esplanade. The officer was receiving support, Kehoe said.

READ MORE:

* Arrest made over late-night Whangarei shooting

* Man suffers facial injuries after being shot by police in Christchurch suburb

* Police shoot person dead during Hamilton search

* Rotorua shooting: Police boss defends officer's decision to shoot machete-wielding man

* Partner says police shot victim in the back

* Armed man shot in the head by police during foot chase

The incident had its origins in Waikanae, about 35km north of Porirua about 90 minutes before the shooting. Police responded to a domestic incident.

CAMERON BURNELL/FAIRFAX NZ Police at the scene in Porirua where a man was fatally shot by police.

After officers arrived, the man left the scene by car, heading south.

He was soon spotted by police, shortly before the shooting happened. Kehoe said the man approached the police car with a machete in hand and threatened an officer, before being shot.

The shooting, which was also witnessed by another police officer, took place next to the Mana Community Police Station and in a seafront service lane which runs parallel to Mana Esplanade.

CAMERON BURNELL/FAIRFAX NZ Police officers prepare for the scene examination.

Kehoe said using a firearm was always treated as a "last resort" by officers.

"This was a dynamic, confronting and dangerous situation. The information I have is that the staff acted professionally, appropriately, and in accordance with policy," Kehoe said.

"On that basis, the staff have my 100 per cent backing and support."

KATARINA WILLIAMS/FAIRFAX NZ Acting District Commander for Wellington, Superintendent Steve Kehoe, fronts media after a police officer's fatal shooting of a man in Porirua.

When asked why a Taser was not used, Kehoe said that question would form part of multiple inquiries, including one by the Independent Police Conduct Authority.

As well as recovering a machete, an air rifle was also found in the man's vehicle.

Neighbours at a nearby apartment block were unable to leave through their front doors on Sunday morning, as police carried out a scene examination in the busy entertainment and business area.

KEVIN STENT/ FAIRFAX NZ A police car is removed from the scene on Sunday afternoon.

Maddy Honiss was at the nearby beach with friends when she heard sirens.

She spoke to police at the scene, one of whom told her "only the bad guy got hurt".

Honiss said the incident had been scary and wondered whether police needed to take such extreme action.

Neighbour Bronnie Lyne said she was woken by sirens from the emergency vehicles.

She looked outside and saw paramedics taking the man away in an ambulance.

Lyne believed he was still alive at the time.