Police confirm ram was in paddock where two found dead in rural ...

Police investigating after two bodies found on Anzac Valley Rd in rural Waitākere, west Auckland, on 18 April 2024. Photo: RNZ / Marika Khabazi

A ram was in the paddock where two people were found dead at a rural property in West Auckland on Thursday morning, police have confirmed.

A man and woman were found dead at the Anzac Valley Road address in Waitākere before 7.30am.

Earlier, a family spokesperson for the pair, Dean Burrell, said the deaths involved an animal kept on their property. The pair are believed to have been killed by the ram.

Police are continuing to investigate the deaths on behalf of the Coroner to understand the circumstances around what happened.

The ram confronted police when they arrived at the property

Another person at the scene also suffered a minor injury after being attacked by the ram.

"On undertaking a risk assessment, the ram was shot and died at the scene," police said.

Burrell said the pair, who were found dead, were in their 80s and lived alone.

The family had not heard from the pair in a couple of days and they were found by their son, he said.

"My auntie and her husband live at this property, they've lived here for about eight years. Unfortunately they've both lost their lives through a tragic accident.

"They're nice people, they don't deserve what happened. I guess it is what it is.

"The family are requesting privacy, please, and everyone's in shock as to what's happened. They're very upset."

Post mortems were due to be carried out on Friday.

A scene examination has been completed.