Police officers were justified in shooting at Matu Reid, after he entered a construction site on Queen St, armed with a shotgun. 

Reid shot and killed two colleagues, and injured others, in the incident in central Auckland in July 2023. 

After attempts to negotiate, and shots fired in both directions, Reid was shot in the arm by police. He died at the scene from what was found to be self-inflicted injuries. 

In a report released today, the Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA) has found police officers were justified in shooting him on the grounds of self-defence, because they feared for their lives and the lives of other officers present. 

Around 7.15 am on July 20, 2023, Reid, who was working for a contractor at the construction site, entered the building and went to the third floor where his colleagues were meeting. 

He shot and killed two colleagues and injured others. He then entered an internal stairwell and made his way up the building. 

When approaching the 17th floor, he shot and wounded another worker who was running away from him. 

Armed police officers, including members of the Armed Offenders Squad (AOS) and Special Tactics Group (STG) responded, following calls from members of the public reporting there was an active shooter on Queen St and that a person had been shot. 

Records show that 373 construction workers were on site at the time. 

They were told Reid was on the 19th floor, and when they neared that level, an officer at the front called out to Reid, telling him to surrender. 

Reid appeared from higher up and shot at the officer. 

He entered a partially completed lift shaft, and officers tried to negotiate his surrender. 

However, officers then unexpectedly encountered Reid, who fired two shots, hitting two officers and seriously wounding one of them. 

Officers continued to instruct Reid to surrender. He raised his firearm and fired one shot. 

Officers fired at Reid, and one round struck him in the forearm. 

Reid died at the scene from what was later established to be self-inflicted injuries. 

The IPCA found police conducted a thorough investigation into the incident and agreed with its findings and outcome. 

The authority acknowledged the bravery of the police officers involved. 

Hannah Bartlett is a Tauranga-based Open Justice reporter at NZME. She previously covered court and local government for the Nelson Mail, and before that was a radio reporter at Newstalk ZB.