Two dead as South Auckland community placed on alert - police

Two people are dead after a serious incident in South Auckland this afternoon and schools in the Wattle Downs area have been placed into lockdown as police respond.

Emergency services were called to a Gambare Place address at about 1.45pm after reports of a woman who was unresponsive.

Police said she was pronounced dead at the scene.

During a search of the property, officers found a man who was also pronounced dead.

Detective Inspector Shaun Vickers said in a media realese that police are treating the incident as an “unfolding serious incident”.

“During a search of the property Police have located a man who was also pronounced deceased,” he said.

Photo/Facebook/Grid Sparta

Cordons are in place around Mahia Road, with police asking people to stay away from the area.

The incident has also affected nearby schools and childcare services, with police advising schools in the immediate area to lock down.

James Cook High School, Leabank Primary School and All About Children Childcare are among those affected, according to 1News.

James Cook High School in Manurewa was among the nearby schools placed into lockdown following the serious incident in Wattle Downs. Photo/

Manurewa-Papakura councillor Daniel Newman told 1News that the Ministry of Education had advised a number of school communities nearby to begin lockdown procedures.

“I don't yet know the reason why that lockdown was requested,” he said.

Newman said he expected the schools were “responding to an updated advisory from the ministry, who of course will be acting on the advice of the police”.

St John said a rapid response unit, an ambulance and an operations manager were sent to Gambare Place at about 1.58pm.

South Auckland is home to large Pasifika communities, and the incident comes as families and schools across the area respond to the police operation.

Listen to South Auckland councillor and former police officer Alf Filipaina's full interview on a proposed 'three-strikes' policy on crime.

Police have not released the identities of the two people who died or details about what happened at the address.

They have advised members of the public to avoid the area while the investigation continues.

Police say further information will be released as it becomes available.