Man arrested after allegedly pointing shotgun at Rotorua police officer
Sunday 11 October 2026 · 3 outlets · 4 reports · updated 
A man is in custody after allegedly pointing a sawn-off shotgun at a police officer during a pursuit in Rotorua on Saturday. The incident, which followed reports of dangerous driving, triggered a general arming order for local staff.
Key facts
4 facts
- A man was arrested in Ōwhata at 1.40am on Sunday.
- The incident involved a sawn-off shotgun.
- The driver was wanted for breaching release conditions.
- A general arming order was issued for Rotorua staff.
The full story
1 min read · 3 outlets
A man is in custody after allegedly pointing a sawn-off shotgun at a police officer in the Ōwhata area. The incident occurred following a pursuit after police spotted a vehicle being driven dangerously through Rotorua at approximately 3pm on Saturday. The driver, who was wanted for breaching release conditions, allegedly presented the weapon before fleeing the scene.
The situation triggered a significant emergency response involving the Armed Offenders Squad, tactical dog teams, and the Police Eagle helicopter. A general arming order was also implemented across Rotorua to protect front-line staff from potential risk.
After a search of the Ōwhata area lasted several hours on Saturday, police located a man on a motorcycle in the same area at about 1.40am on Sunday. He was arrested with the assistance of a tactical dog team.
Bay of Plenty District Commander Superintendent Will Loughrin stated, “Keeping both our people and the community safe is paramount”. The general arming order was lifted following the arrest, and police said charges are pending. The involved officer and other staff are receiving welfare support.
Where reports differ
- One report describes the man being found on a motorbike, while others state he was on a motorcycle.
Compiled from reports by Stuff, NZ Herald and RNZ.