New Zealand Police have confirmed one officer has died and another officer is seriously injured after an incident west of Auckland.
New Zealand Police Commissioner Andrew Coster told a media conference the officers were attending to a "routine traffic stop" and were unarmed when the shooting occurred.
"At this stage, there was nothing to indicate this job was going to be anything out of the ordinary," he said.
"Our whole organisation is in a state of shock … [it's] the worst news that police, and police officer's families can receive."
Mr Coster said the offender used a "long-barrelled firearm" and the "situation escalated quickly, if not immediately".
Eight schools are currently locked down in the area.
Earlier today a series of posts to the organisation's Twitter account revealed police were responding "to an unfolding serious incident in Massey, West Auckland".
"At around 10.30am, a police unit has performed a routine traffic stop on Reynella Drive. There have been shots fired at police officers. Two officers have been shot and have been seriously injured," the posts read.
"A member of the public has also been hit by the vehicle and has been injured.
"The offender has fled the scene in a vehicle and police have a large presence actively searching for the offender."
Witness describes seeing officer on the ground
Witness Elaine Taniela told The New Zealand Herald she was at home when she heard gunshots.
She said a friend who was on his way to her house at the time described seeing an officer on the ground shaking, as if he was having a seizure.
New Zealand last year enacted new gun control laws banning the deadliest types of semiautomatic weapons after a mass shooting in which a gunman killed 51 people at two Christchurch mosques during Friday prayers.
Cordons are in place and schools in the immediate area were advised to lock down.
"Police advise all members of the public to avoid the Massey area, in particular the areas around Don Buck Road, Waimumu Road, Hewlitt Road and Triangle Road," New Zealand Police also posted online.
"Further information will be released once it becomes available."
Just yesterday, New Zealand passed a second set of gun reforms prompted by the 2019 Christchurch massacre by a suspected white supremacist who murdered 51 victims with semi-automatic weapons.
The tougher gun laws will take effect next week.
The most significant change is the new firearms registry, which licence holders will be required to update as they buy or sell guns.
