The mother of the suspect said her son was terrified of surrendering, but he was prepared to give himself up, if his family could accompany him but police refused the request. Rhys Warren, 27, is driven away by police after his arrest following a tense stand-off with police in New Zealand. Credit:Stuff/Fairfax NZ In a statement police said the stand-off had been resolved safely after an individual surrendered to Police a short time ago. "The male surrendered without incident and has been taken into custody," it said. He would be given a medical check before being interviewed "about the events of the last 24 hours". On Thursday morning Police Commissioner Mike Bush said the priority for police was to ensure no one else was harmed, and that's why he did allow the mother of the alleged shooter to see him.



"Everything we know so far tells us it's one individual, but you know, we'll have an open mind. The investigation's still very much taking place but everything we know so far suggests we're only looking for one person," Commissioner Bush said.

In a statement to media on Thursday morning, the family said a Maori police liaison officer would enter the cordon with the armed forces to try to collect the suspected shooter. It said this was what the family had wanted all along. A NZ Army tank at the scene of a siege in Bay of Plenty. Credit:Stuff/Fairfax NZ The suspected gunman has been keeping in touch with his extended family (whanau) and friends by text message and social media from inside the house at Otakiri , near the town of Kawerau, about 70 kilometres from Rotorua. One policeman remained in a serious but stable condition in hospital, while two of his colleagues had been discharged. A fourth remained in hospital, requiring further treatment for a gunshot wound to their hand. The NZ Army lending support to police at the scene. Credit:Stuff/Fairfax NZ

Police negotiators could be heard speaking to the man over a loud speaker early on Thursday morning. "Step outside, hands over your head, no harm will come to you, come outside," they said. Four police officers were shot during Wednesday's drug operation. Credit:Stuff.co.nz "The house is completely surrounded, we know you're in there, we know you can hear us, follow our instructions and no harm will come to you." The shooter's family members kept a vigil at the police cordon overnight. One family members was taken away in an unmarked police car about midnight.

Police cordons remained in place on Onepu Spring Road as night fell. Credit:George Heard His mother had earlier urged police to allow family to enter the cordon and talk him out. "We would go in with our hands together and bring him out," she said. "Son, we love you, you better come out, there is more for us on this earth." She said her son wanted he to come out freely, but was terrified of being sent to prison. She was also concerned about his safety.

She added: "We can get him out. We're confident." The man's cousin said he had told family he would come out with whanau but not for police, she said. "Just let us go in and get him," she said. She added that the family are worried the situation could escalate if police go into the house. "It's just heartbreaking. We're trying to help the police to diffuse the situation and they are not even listening to the whanau."

He had been in trouble with the law previously, she said, but not for some time. Reverend Wayne Te Kaawa, whanau member and kaumatua (Maori elder) at Hahuru Marae, said they were concerned. "It was just a normal day, some people were just going to the marae to mow the lawn and they heard gunshots," he said. "He's texting people and talking to people on Facebook. The mother has said to him 'just calm down, stay calm and don't do anything stupid.' Local residents have described hearing gunshots and seeing wounded police officers loaded into a helicopter.

"They were running along with their guns and we knew something serious had happened," said Lyndsey Penwarden. "Then we saw the injured police officer being put into the helicopter - it was really sad." Residents say police had been in the area, about 70km from Rotorua, since lunchtime on Wednesday. They were reasonably relaxed, but their tone changed abruptly later in the afternoon. Another resident, who only wanted to be identified as Jo, said she arrived home about 1.30pm and police allowed her to jump her fence to get some things from her house.

with Elton Smallman, Matt Stewart and Laura Walters via Stuff.co.nz with AAP