WELLINGTON - A ram in New Zealand has been shot and killed by police after it was blamed for the deaths of an elderly couple in a farm paddock, authorities and local media say.

The man and woman were found “deceased” in the morning on April 18 at the property in West Auckland.

“Police can confirm a ram was in the paddock at the time we were notified,” they said in a statement.

One other unidentified person had suffered a minor injury after being attacked by the ram – a male sheep – in the enclosure, police said.

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

“On undertaking a risk assessment, the ram was shot and died at the scene.”

Police confirmed one of their officers had killed the agitated animal.

The couple’s nephew Dean Burrell said the victims were in their 80s and had died in a “tragic accident” involving the animal, according to local media outlet Stuff.

Police said they were investigating the incident and a post-mortem would be carried out on April 19.

New Zealand is home to five million people and about 25 million sheep. AFP