Children in house which was shot at

File photo / NZH

At least two children were in a Northland house shot at during an attempted murder on Christmas Eve, police say.

Three or more rounds were fired around the front door of the house in Okaihau, 63km southeast of Kaitaia, about 8.15pm.

Today a 31 year-old woman and two brothers, aged 42 and 43, appeared in the Kaikohe District Court on a variety of charges, including attempted murder, discharging a firearm with intent, and theft of a motor vehicle.

Sergeant Riki Whiu said there were between 12 and 15 people, thought to be family members, in the house at the time.

Some of them were from out of town and were believed to be there for a Christmas celebration, he said.Police recovered a car, stolen in Auckland last week and given different number plates to disguise it, a 12 gauge shotgun and a high-powered rifle.

Child Youth and Family were preparing referrals for the children, aged four and five, who were in the house.

"Fortunately it was an incident that could have gone terribly wrong and I have no doubt that this sort of incident traumatises everybody and fortunately those children, by the grace of somebody, whether it's God or not, weren't injured," Mr Whiu said. Police have not ruled out further arrests.

- NZPA