Ram shot by police after couple die on rural Auckland property

Two people have been found dead in a paddock at a rural West Auckland property this morning.

Police said they were called to a rural property on Anzac Valley Rd in Waitākere around 7.30am.

Police have confirmed a ram was in the paddock and was attacking people.

"Another party at the scene suffered a minor injury after being attacked by this ram," said a police spokesperson.

“Once our staff arrived at the scene they too were confronted and approached by the ram.”

The ram was shot and died at the scene following a risk assessment by police.

A spokesperson for the family Dean Burrell said the couple who lost their lives were "good people".

"They didn't deserve this."

He said the retired couple were both in their early 80s and had lived at the West Auckland property for eight years.

Federated Farmers spokesman Simon Cameron today issued his condolences to the family.

He said deaths due to farm animals were rare but mating season could make them more volatile.

"Hormones are all go in mating season, so they are more aggravated sometimes at this time of year."

Cameron added the incident should serve as a reminder to all farmers to "take care".

A police spokesperson said: "A scene examination has been ongoing today and has now been completed."

"Police are continuing to investigate on behalf of the Coroner, to establish the full set of circumstances around what occurred in the paddock."

Hato Hone St John said it was notified of the incident at 7.26am.

Two ambulances and two rapid response vehicles responded, a spokesperson said.

— additional reporting by James Ball.