The man behind the Auckland shooting incident which killed two and injured multiple others has been identified.
Matu Tangi Matua Reid, 24, was serving a sentence of five months home detention at the time of the shooting, according to the New Zealand Herald.
In March, he had been charged with a series of domestic violence offences, including impeding breathing, injuring with intent to injure and male assaults female.
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Reid was wearing an ankle monitor but had approval to travel from the property where he was serving home detention to the construction site where the shooting occurred on Thursday.
Police say Reid entered a construction site on Queens St early on Thursday morning and “discharged his firearm”.
7NEWS understands the gunman worked his way up through each floor of the high-rise, demanding the construction workers assemble on the building’s rooftop.
He threatened to kill them if they did not.
Police quickly descended on the scene and attempted to engage with Reid, who had contained himself within an elevator shaft.
He was later found dead.
“Further shots were fired from the male and he was located deceased a short time later,” NZ Police said.
“Details around what has exactly occurred are still emerging.”
Police confirmed two civilians had died, and six people had been injured.
It’s believed one of those injured was a police officer.
They have all been taken to Auckland Hospital.
Speaking later on Thursday morning, New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said he could not provide any details as to a possible motive.
He said at this stage that there was no information to suggest any political or ideological motivations behind the shooting.
“I want to reiterate that there is no wider national security threat,” Hipkins said.
“This appears to be the actions of one individual.”
Speaking to 7NEWS, one witness described the event as “shocking”.
“Multiple shots rolled out, and then the cops just freaked out, they started just yelling, screaming ‘run, run, run, get behind something hard’,” one woman said.
“It was shocking really, you don’t expect that to happen.”
Hipkins confirmed the FIFA Women’s World Cup would proceed as planned, with the opening match set to be played tonight between New Zealand and Norway.
New Zealand Football said it was “shocked” by the incident.
“We can confirm that all of the Football Ferns team and staff are safe, but we will not be able to comment further while details are still emerging,” it said.
“Preparations for the game tonight at Eden Park will continue as planned.”
FIFA said the opening hours of the Fan Festival in Auckland, which is located about 100m from the construction site, would be confirmed in “due course”.
“Immediately following the incident, President Gianni Infantino and FIFA Secretary-General Fatma Samoura were in communication with the Aotearoa New Zealand authorities,” it said.
FIFA said it has been in “constant contact” with the teams affected by the incident, with the construction site also near the hotel where the Norwegian women’s soccer team is currently staying.
“FIFA has been informed that this was an isolated incident that was not related to football operations and the opening match tonight at Eden Park will proceed as planned,” it said.
“The participating teams in close proximity to this incident are being supported in relation to any impact that may have taken place.”
New Zealand Police are continuing to investigate the incident.
“What has unfolded is understandably alarming, and we are reassuring the public that this incident has been contained and is an isolated incident,” it said.
“Police are now commencing an investigation into what has occurred this morning.”
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