Police tonight have rejected reports the gunman at the centre of a siege in Napier is dead, but several cars have moved through the police cordon carrying people not wearing protective clothing.
Campbell Live reported that it had heard from sources that the gunman, Jan Molenaar, had died from a self-inflicted wound and that ambulances were on the scene. 3 News has been since told the report was incorrect.
And on TVNZ's Close Up programme, inquiry head Superintendent Sam Hoyle declined to comment when asked if Mr Molenaar was dead.
"Jan is still at the address, we can't confirm his status right now."
Earlier tonight police retrieved the body of slain officer Senior Constable Len Snee.
Armed police entered Molenaar's property at Chaucer Rd on Hospital Hill just after 5pm.
Mr Snee's body was recovered from the driveway of the property, where he had lain for about 32 hours.
Mr Hoyle said it was a relief to be able to bring Mr Snee's body away from the scene.
"We are pleased for the family that we are able to bring him out - it has been a traumatic and immensely difficult time for them," Mr Hoyle said.
No police were injured during the retrieval of the body.
Molenaar yesterday allegedly shot and killed Mr Snee and badly wounded Senior Constables Bruce Miller and Grant Diver, as well as a neighbour who tried to help police.
The officers had been on a routine drugs operation at the house.
Eastern District Commander Superintendent Sam Hoyle said earlier this afternoon that the standoff could finish "in the next five minutes or go on for days", and that over 100 extra officers had been brought into Napier from around the country.
Police said they were prepared to wait to try to resolve the situation without any more fatalities or injuries.
Many people today have paid tribute to Mr Snee, 53, among them a woman who emailed 3 News to say he and other officers searched her home last year because they suspected her flatmate was cultivating cannabis.
She said Mr Snee was "the officer in charge and he was really cool. I am very sad to hear he has been murdered, and the others hurt as well."
She also made a plea that officers be allowed to carry firearms in such circumstances.
Mr Hoyle said it was a relief to be able to bring Len's body away from the scene.
"We are pleased for the family that we are able to bring him out - it has been a traumatic and immensely difficult time for them".
A former neighbour believes he wouldn't have wanted to come out alive.
Alex Cunliffe, 16, moved from Napier Hill two years ago but had spent the previous 13 years living just down from Molenaar's property.
Mr Cunliffe told NZPA he would visit Mr Molenaar four or five times a week, and had remained in close contact.
He described Molenaar as an "average normal father".
Mr Cunliffe was at the edge of the cordon area when armed police descended on the gunman's property around 5pm today and more than 20 shots were heard.
He was devastated when he heard the shots but said Molenaar was "the kind of guy who was always ready for something like this, he was prepared".
He said Molenaar had had a run in with police a week ago when he and his partner were driving around the suburb of Greenmeadows.
Mr Cunliffe said his friend "thought they (the police) were racists". Molenaar's partner was Maori.
He said Molenaar "wouldn't take shit from anyone especially the police".
Mr Cunliffe did not think his friend had survived the latest round of shots this evening but said "I don't think he would want to come out alive anyway".
3 News / NZPA