A woman who died after being tasered by NSW police during a long stand-off was able to walk to an ambulance before she was rushed to hospital.

Officers were called to a Newcastle apartment complex just after 12.30pm on Thursday following reports a woman was threatening people with an axe.

The 47-year-old also allegedly threatened officers when they arrived, before barricading herself inside a unit.

Specialist tactical officers were called to assist with negotiations before police were able to enter the property several hours later, about 9.45pm.

Police used a Taser, as well as non-lethal “bean bag” rounds, while attempting to arrest the woman. 

She was taken to John Hunter Hospital, where she later died.

A crime scene has been established and a critical incident investigation is under way, led by the state’s homicide squad.

NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Peter McKenna on Friday said the woman sustained an injury to her left shoulder during the arrest, but she was still able to take herself to a nearby ambulance.

He said local police tried to negotiate with the woman “for quite some time” before specialist officers, including negotiators, were brought in.

“We certainly don’t rush these sorts of things,” he told reporters.

“We don’t want to see people get hurt, we want to do it as safely as we possibly can for everyone.”

Mr McKenna added the steps police took to disarm the woman and the weapons they deployed would form part of the investigation.

“Her family has been informed and given as much information as possible, and that will continue to occur,” he said.

It is the second fatal incident involving police using a Taser in recent months after the death of 95-year-old Clare Nowland at a Cooma nursing home in May.

Critical incident investigations are triggered in cases where NSW Police officers are involved in incidents that result in the death or serious injury of a person.

Officers not involved in the incident conduct the investigation, which is also subject to oversight from police watchdog the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission.

The information will be presented to the state coroner.