Two people are confirmed dead in a serious "unfolding incident" in South Auckland this afternoon, with a lockdown now lifted for multiple local schools.
A man and a woman were found dead earlier today by officers, police confirmed.
Emergency services were called to an address on Gambare Place at around 1.45pm after reports of a woman who was unresponsive.
Two dead as police respond to 'serious incident' in South Auckland - watch on TVNZ+
Detective Inspector Shaun Vickers said the woman was pronounced dead at the scene.
“During a search of the property, police located a man who was also pronounced deceased,” he said.
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St John said a rapid response unit, an ambulance, and an operations manager responded to the incident on Gambare Place at around 1.58pm.
Nearby on Volante Avenue, a grey undertaker's vehicle took position at about 4.30pm, where a large group of police officers gathered and a white sheet was erected.
Police earlier confirmed two bodies were earlier located at Gambare Place.
Cordons in place in local area
Cordons were in place at Mahia Rd, with police advising nearby schools to lock down and asking all members of the public to avoid the area.
Some residents have been left unable to return to their homes, with some held back by the cordon for more than an hour.
One man said he had been waiting over an hour, but was reluctant to press armed officers for more information.
"I'm pretty concerned because my house is open, and I think they're looking for someone, so I'm not too sure," he said.
Another resident who lives nearby said he had been waiting since about 3.20pm and had been given no indication of when he could go home.
"I live just over down there. Can't exactly get in due to the police blockade."
Thousands of students were locked down
Speaking to 1News, Manurewa-Papakura councillor Daniel Newman said the Ministry of Education had advised several school communities in the vicinity to initiate a lockdown.
Thousands of students in the surrounding area were affected, he said.
Newman said the schools went into lockdown at about a quarter past two.
"That protocol has now been lifted, and the students within the school campuses in this area are now exiting and heading home, notwithstanding the fact that the police have still got a controlled activity underway," he said.
Newman said police were "taking a precautionary approach" given the operation underway, adding that Counties Manukau officers were working in a "complex environment" with thousands of people and students moving through the area.
Takanini MP Rima Nakhle has urged residents to "remain vigilant while our police conduct their work".
"I know this must be causing distress for many, and my heart is with you all, but please stay put while our police conduct their work at pace," she said in a social media post.
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