New Zealand police are investigating whether a man who died from a stab wound during a stand-off had any connection with the alleged Christchurch mosque shooter.
National police commissioner Mike Bush said Christchurch police investigating guns found at a local property, located the 54-year-old man in a vehicle about 12.30am on Wednesday.
Police negotiators spoke with the man over a number of hours and officers approached the vehicle at around 3.40am, Bush said, when they found him critically injured with what appeared to be a stab wound.
First aid was applied but the man died at the scene. A knife was found in the vehicle, but no further guns were discovered, he said.
"A high priority investigation is underway to determine whether or not the deceased man posed a threat to the community. This will include further searches of Christchurch properties and interviews with family and associates," Bush said.
"At this time there is no evidence to suggest this person had any involvement in the attacks of 15 March, however this forms an important part of the investigation."
A suspected white supremacist has been charged with one count of murder over the Christchurch shootings and will appear in court on April 5.
