UPDATED 4.22pm: The man alleged to be at the centre of an armed stand-off on the outskirts of Whakatane for nearly 24 hours has appeared in court.
27 year-old Coastlands man Rhys Richard Ngahiwi Warren has been remanded in custody without plea on four charges of using a firearm against four different police officers.
Each charge carries a maximum sentence of 14-years in prison.
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Warren entered the court flanked by two police officers and wearing a blue boiler suit, before being left to stand alone in the dock with his hands handcuffed together and hanging his head down.
About six family and friends were in court for his appearance but they remained quiet throughout his five minute appearance.
The police officers who were injured in the shooting had their names suppressed by Judge Peter Rollo.
Warren, who will now have a psychiatric report prepared, will reappear in the Rotorua District Court on March 24, 2016.
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Police tweeted this morning that the man arrested without incident.
Newstalk ZB reporter Hannah Bartlett told Leighton Smith the family was overjoyed.
"There was an outpouring of hugging, of smiles and then they gathered together to sing a Maori hymn."
"I think everyone here is very relieved it has ended the way it has."
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One officer remained in hospital in a serious but stable condition, another was in hospital awaiting further treatment for a gunshot wound to his hand and the two others have been discharged.
Police Commissioner Mike Bush addressed media in Kawerau.
He provided more details about the shot police officers.
"This morning I visited the two seriously injured staff members at Waikato Hospital. They are currently in theatre - one is more seriously injured, he has a firearm injury to the head and it will be operated on as we speak. And the other officer has a firearm wound to his hand, and that also is being treated as we speak."
LISTEN: Police Minister Judith Collins speaks to Mike Hosking
Minister of Police Judith Collins, talking to Newstalk ZB’s Mike Hosking, said this incident was a reminder of just how dangerous it is to be a police officer.
“It’s one of the most dangerous jobs that there is when you consider the number of police officers who are shot, stabbed, run over – all those sorts of things and it’s just a really dangerous occupation and I think they do it really well.”
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