The shooting of an Auckland woman with a crossbow has brought renewed calls for the weapons to be licensed like firearms.
West Auckland police are considering laying charges after a woman was hit in the head with a crossbow bolt.
The 42-year-old has undergone emergency eye surgery and is in a serious but stable condition at Greenlane Hospital following the incident in Glen Eden yesterday afternoon.
Detective Senior Sergeant Stan Brown says the woman's neighbour was in possession of the loaded crossbow before the incident. He says the victim was watering a pot plant on her veranda when the crossbow was fired and the arrow flew about 30 metres into her property, and struck the woman.
Mr Brown says both the neighbour and the woman's son heard her call out and went to her aid.
Former New Zealand First law and order spokesman Ron Mark renewed his call for the Government to introduce a licensing requirement for crossbows to bring them in line with other arms.
"These weapons are potentially lethal, with the ability to kill or maim at a range of 60 yards, yet there is no requirement for crossbows to be licensed", he said.
At present the most serious offence anyone using a crossbow can be charged with is possession of an offensive weapon.
But John Howat, chairman of the New Zealand Council of Licensed Firearms Owners (COLFO), said legislation could be difficult to police.
He said COLFO would not support crossbow owners having a firearms licence because they were not firearms.
"But whether or not some other licence is necessary I don't know."
Mr Brown says police were called to a property in Ambler Avenue, Glen Eden at about 3.30pm yesterday.
"On arrival we found the victim lying injured with a 40cm long target arrow partially embedded in the front of her skull, just above the right eye," Mr Brown said.
Just before the incident, the neighbour had the loaded weapon and a number of arrows on his property.
The woman was outside on the veranda of her small unit, watering her pot plant.
The crossbow was fired and the arrow flew about 30 metres into her property, and struck the woman.
Both the neighbour and the victim's 16-year-old son heard the injured woman call out and they immediately went to her assistance.
- NZPA, NEWSTALK ZB
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