

Police returned fire from their moving car as a fleeing gunman leaned out his window to unload another hail of bullets.

The man, who "did not want to be caught", had earlier sprayed police with fire a semi-automatic weapon during a chase in Tauranga, police said on Friday.

On Thursday evening that man was shot dead by police after he fired upon them when they attempted to stop his vehicle as part of their investigation into this week's double homicide near McLaren Falls.

Later in the day Christchurch police arrested a 25-year-old Bay of Plenty man in relation to that same homicide at a New Brighton property in Christchurch. He would appear in court in "due course" police said.

READ MORE: Two men shot and killer near Tauranga knew each other

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DOMINICO ZAPATA/STUFF Police investigate the scene of the shooting on Friday.

Bay of Plenty District Commander Superintendent Andy McGregor said the man police shot dead was a one bad motivated offender who did not want to get caught.

During a press conference on Friday morning, McGregor said the incident unfolded when police noticed a vehicle wanted in relation to the McLaren Falls homicide about 7.46pm on Thursday.

Police followed the vehicle and attempted to stop it, but the driver, who was the only person in the vehicle, failed to stop.

Then on Carmichael Road in Tauranga, the driver leaned out of the car door and fired a volley of shots at the police vehicle.

McGregor said the driver fired in excess of about 15-20 shots. Police believed it was a semi-automatic weapon due to the number of shots fired in quick succession.

DOMINICO ZAPATA/STUFF The scene of shooting on State Highway 2, Tauranga.

"At one stage, he actually stopped the vehicle, got out and took deliberate aim at the police vehicle and fired another volley of shots."

The vehicle then fled towards SH2, in the direction of the Tauranga CBD, and more shots were fired from the moving vehicle.

McGregor said police returned fire and in the exchange the man was wounded.

"The driver was wounded in the car," McGregor said.

"He gradually stopped and went to the side of the road."

Police could see the driver slumped forwards when they approached the vehicle. Upon seeing the wounded man they called for medical assistance. He was later pronounced dead.

McGregor said police cars had been struck by bullets on several occasions during the police chase.

DOMINICO ZAPATA/STUFF Superintendent Andy McGregor said the officers involved were left distressed after the incident

The chase happened at low speeds with the fleeing driver travelling at 40kmh hour and slowing to fire at pursuing vehicles. Police pulled back 40-100 metres from the vehicle as it was deemed too dangerous to intervene.

McGregor said the incident was not connected to the spate of earlier shootings that have occurred around the Bay of Plenty.

The chase lasted about six minutes.

"This was quite a traumatic event for the officers involved."

DOMINICO ZAPATA/STUFF The chase centered around the suburb of Bethlehem in Tauranga.

Those officers now have a stand down period of 10 days and would receive welfare counselling services, he said.

McGregor said no members of the public were injured during the incident. But he said there were a number of people around at the time of the incident.

It was a "very dangerous situation".

But McGregor also reassured members of the public that they were safe. "We're talking about one motivated offender here who did not want to be caught."

DOMINICO ZAPATA/STUFF State Highway 2 remained cordoned off on Friday following the shooting.

The driver from Thursday night's incident is yet to be formally identified. McGregor said that identification process would take place on Friday.

The McLaren Falls homicide investigation was continuing and police were following positive lines of inquiries, he said.

Once the driver had been identified, police would be able to ascertain whether or not he was involved in the homicide which left two men dead.

McGregor also said police were working very hard to target gang-related crime in the area.

Speaking to RNZ on Friday, Tauranga Mayor Tenby Powell said that although Tauranga was currently in the headlines, gang violence and drugs was a national issue.

At this stage in Tauranga, this was "gang on gang", the community weren't involved, and police were working hard to contain it, he said.Fortunately no members of the public were injured on Thursday, but Powell said there was concern that at some point there would be "collateral damage".

DANIEL HINES/SUNLIVE A man has been shot dead by police after he fired upon them when they attempted to stop a vehicle as part of their investigation into this week's double homicide.

He said crime had been going on for sometime in Tauranga and they were "deeply concerned".

"This is a national issue, this isn't just a Tauranga issue right now."

DANIEL HINES/SUNLIVE Police fired upon when attempting to stop a vehicle in relation to their double-homicide investigation.

ROAD CLOSURES

State Highway Two in Tauranga has partially reopened, following the fatal Police shooting on Thursday night.

The road is now open between the Waihi Road off-ramp and Takitimu Drive on-ramp.

However, the southbound SH2 link road to the City Centre and Mt Maunganui remains closed.

MORNING REPORT/RNZ A man is dead after a shootout with police in Tauranga last night.

Police say vehicles must exit at 15th Avenue.

Earlier, ​NZTA advised motorists to avoid unnecessary travel, or consider working from home where possible and to also expect delays.