Politicians have reacted with shock and devastation to the deadly shooting in downtown Auckland.
Two people were killed by a man armed with a pump action shotgun who entered a lower Queen Street construction site on Thursday morning. The gunman made his way through the building firing the weapon until he barricaded himself in an elevator shaft.
Shots were exchanged with responding police and the man was then found dead. A police officer was injured in that exchange and has been hospitalised, while four other members of the public are being treated for injuries ranging from moderate to serious.
The Government has said there is no wider national security risk and FIFA events scheduled for Thursday evening will still mostly go ahead as planned, though the planned fan zone close to the scene of the shooting won't open.
The 24-year-old shooter is reported to be Matu Tangi Matua Reid, who was sentenced in March on several charges, including male assaults female, and sentenced to five months of home detention.
Reid wore an ankle bracelet but didn't appear to be breaching any home detention rules as he had an exemption to work at the central Auckland site. He didn't, however, have a firearms licence. His motivation for the attack is connected to his work, police say.
Politicians have been reacting to the events, with Prime Minister Chris Hipkins earlier praising the "brave" first responders.
"Police who ran into fire from the gunman straight into harm's way in order to save the lives of others. These kinds of situations move fast and the actions of those who risk their lives to save others are nothing short of heroic.
"I also want to acknowledge ambulance first responders who were there quickly on the scene this morning."
He said his first reaction was one of "concern" and any situation where innocent people have lost their lives "should upset political leaders and should upset New Zealanders".
National leader Christopher Luxon, speaking from Auckland on Thursday afternoon, said it was a tragic situation.
"There are two people who went to work this morning and aren't going home tonight. I want to express, on behalf of the National Party, our condolences to those families that have lost loved ones.
"I want to wish a speedy recovery to those that have been injured, and importantly also acknowledge those who would have been traumatised."
He said there had been "heroic" actions from first responders.
Luxon also acknowledged there would be questions from Kiwis about how these events could occur, but now was not the time.
"Today is not a day for politics. It is really a day to remember and to express tremendous gratitude to our police officers, to our ambulance officers, to our hospital staff and members of the public who stepped up and offered help when it was most needed by so many."
National's police spokesperson Mark Mitchell, a former police officer, praised the work of the armed offenders' squad and special tactics group, saying it was a complicated situation given the multiple floors of the building and the chance people could have been taken hostage.
"They were fearless and they went about their job in a professional way and they showed that they are a world-class police service that actively went in there to locate this offender and make sure no one else was hurt or killed. I have no doubt in my mind they saved lives in their actions today."
ACT leader David Seymour said the situation was "devastating".
"As an Aucklander, as a New Zealander, we mourn those lost. Their workmates, their families, those injured, we hope they are recovering. Those members of the police force and the ambulances, their response, I think was heroic and no doubt as more details emerge, there will be some real heroes there."
He said there were serious questions to be asked, but was also of the view that more information was needed before that discussion was to be had.
"Clearly, there will be serious questions. How could such a person convicted of domestic violence be out on home detention and how could such a person, who was clearly not fit and proper, procure a firearm? I think it's really important we understand all of the facts around that.
"It would be easy for people to jump to conclusions, 'He should never have been on home detention', 'He should never have had a firearm', I understand how people will want to jump to those conclusions. But I for one would like to see all the facts and ask and answer those questions and have a considered, rational response to this tragedy.
"I think that's what the victims really deserve. I feel New Zealand hasn't always done that as well as it could have and I hope that this response will show us growing as a nation."
Greens co-leader Marama Davidson said she was "still absolutely shocked and devastated".
"This is all terrible and really thinking of the families whose lives have been impacted tragically by this today, and really thankful for the responses and the care of our first responders to bring safety back to the community as quick as possible today as well."
Davidson is also the Minister for the Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence.
"I just want to acknowledge the triggering that this may have for some people impacted on by domestic violence. You can reach out to police in the first instance who are well set up to refer people to the right place."
Deputy Prime Minister Carmel Sepuloni led statements in the House on Thursday afternoon about the attack.
"In a country like our own, this is the last thing you would expect to encounter on your morning commute or whilst doing your job. But the rapid response from our first responders meant they could move at pace to protect as many people as possible."
