State Highway 1 has reopened after police fatally shoot a machete wielding man in the early hours of this morning.
The New Zealand Transport Agency thanked motorists for their patience during the closure on the busy Easter weekend.
"We realise the inconvenience this will have caused for many road users and the significant impact it may have had on Easter travel plans," Auckland Transport Operations Centre Manager Rua Pani says.
The road has reopened after an East Auckland man, 29, was fatally shot by police this morning on SH1 near Pohuehue, north of Auckland, after approaching officers with a machete, say police.
Police were called to an address in Onehunga early hours this morning after reports that a man known to the woman had been acting erratically.
The woman left the address in fear for her safety.
Police say they arrived at the address around 3.10am and no cars or people were there.
A rural Police officer was heading home where he pulled in behind a car on SH1 near Topuni with hazard lights on to see if the driver needed assistance.
The car quickly drove off, and the police car followed until the driver stopped again.
Police say, the driver then got out and came around to the driver’s door of the police car, wielding a machete and threatening the officer.
The officer retreated and called for back up, while the offender got back into his car and drove south on SH1 towards Puhoi.
The offending car was believed to be driving at speeds of up to 150km/ph, at times with its lights off.
The additional police resource were called in, and were able to spike the car near Mahurangi West Road at around 3.50am.
The driver again approached officers with the machete, and Police fired shots.
First aid was immediately administered and an ambulance was called, but the man died at the scene.
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