Stay safe, look after neighbours
Business and community leaders have asked for calm as police step up their efforts to find an alleged gunman believed to be in the district.
Matamata-Piako Mayor Jan Barnes said she had been in touch with Waikato District Commander Superintendent Bruce Bird since Sunday, when the incident unfolded.
Police named Rollie James Heke, 36, as the suspect they were looking for after an alleged gunman opened fire on police officers in Morrinsville in the early hours of Sunday.
Heke is alleged to have fired a volley of shots at three police officers with a military style semiautomatic gun on Kuranui Rd. He was in a red Holden which failed to stop for police when it was travelling through town.
Barnes said she was thankful no one was injured during the exchange.
‘‘We need to allow the police to do their job and can support them by passing on any information they know about this incident or if they saw anything unusual on Saturday night.’’
She stopped short of saying the incident was an example of why the district needed more police staff.
But she would speak with Superintendent Bruce Bird at a debrief in terms of what police support ‘‘my community needs’’.
‘‘We have actively advocated for an increase in rural police numbers over recent years and will continue to support our police to combat crime in our community.
‘‘I am asking our community to stay safe, lock up and look after your neighbours.’’
Barnes said the incident was out of the ordinary. Initial police investigations showed Heke, from Wellington, was travelling through Morrinsville when police tried to stop him.
‘‘I know the community of Police are asking for information on Rollie JamesHeke. ❚ The public can give information anonymously via Crimestoppers: 0800 555 111. ❚ Crimestoppers via email, visit crimestoppers-nz.org ❚ Morrinsville Police Station: 07 889 5071. ❚ People can call police immediately on 111.
Morrinsville is resilient and will bounce back from this. We have an amazing community and we will get through this together.’’
Morrinsville Chamber of Commerce said it had no issues reported and it was business as usual. The organisation, and Barnes, said it was a matter left for the police to deal with.
School principals who spoke to Radio New Zealand reporters said they were being cautious but continuing with their regular weekly routine.
Green Party Waikato candidate Philippa Stevenson said the police in provincial areas had been struggling for years because they had been underfunded by the National government.
The police budget fell steadily from 2009. Only in May, Police Association president Chris Cahill said that police were ‘‘overloaded and at breaking point’’.
An election year budget package to boost police officer numbers is too little too late, Stevenson said.
‘‘It will train new officers but over four years when the police need them now. The Green Party will support a level of funding for the police that will help them tackle crime from the community level up.’’
Around 6pm on Monday armed police swarmed a property on Studholme St - one kilometre from where Heke abandoned a red Holden after the police chase ended in gunfire on Sunday.
Tear gas canisters were fired at a home as Armed Offenders Squad members assisted in a search of the property.
By 11pm police cordons were stood down.
Police said in a statement that a search warrant had been completed and Heke was not located.
The house on Studholme St remained under guard with further searches of the property intended to continue.
Police said Heke was believed to be armed and dangerous and should not be approached.