Man surrenders after four New Zealand police officers shot

New Zealand Police on Thursday ended an overnight standoff with a man who allegedly shot and wounded four police officers during a drugs operation.

The siege at a rural house in the Bay of Plenty, on the east of the North Island, began Wednesday and involved light armoured vehicles and a helicopter from the New Zealand Defence Force.

Police Commissioner Mike Bush said the operation ended safely after the man surrendered without incident at the home near the town of Kawerau.

"Our priority was always to resolve this without further risk to police staff or the public. This welcome development follows lengthy contact throughout the night with the individual by police negotiators and other police staff," Bush said in a statement.

The man would be given a medical check before police questioned him about the events of the previous 24 hours.

"A major police investigation has commenced, which will build a full picture of what led to yesterday's shootings which led to four police staff being injured," said Bush.

"I appreciate there are many questions which will be asked about this event. We will conduct a thorough and detailed investigation to establish exactly what happened, and act on any learnings which may arise."

Two of the injured police officers had been discharged from hospital, said an earlier statement from the Police.

Another officer was in a serious but stable condition, and a fourth officer who was shot in the hand would undergo further treatment in hospital Thursday.

Police had been in the area Wednesday morning to seize illegal cannabis when the first shots were fired.

All the injured officers were men. Endit