Wellington, Mar 10 (IANS): New Zealand Police on Thursday ended an overnight standoff with a man who allegedly shot and injured four police officers during a drugs operation.

The siege at a rural house in the Bay of Plenty, on the east of the North Island, began on Wednesday, involved light armoured vehicles and a helicopter from the New Zealand Defence Force, Xinhua news agency reported.

The police commissioner said the operation ended safely after the man surrendered near the town of Kawerau.

"Our priority was always to resolve this without further risk to police staff or the public. This development follows lengthy contact throughou the night with the individual by police the negotiator," he stated.

"A major police investigation has commenced, which will build a full picture of what led to yesterday's shootings which led to four police staff being injured," he said.

Two of the injured police officers were discharged from hospital.

Another officer was in a serious but stable condition, and a fourth officer who was shot in the hand would undergo further treatment.

Police was in the area on Wednesday morning to seize illegal cannabis when the first shots were fired.