Fatal shooting on first day of duck season

Photo / Thinkstock

Police have issued a firearms safety warning after a hunter was killed near Auckland on the first day of the duck shooting season.

The man, believed to be in his 50s, was shot while out hunting with a group, just before 6pm on Raurangaruru Rd, in Karioitahi, a rural area near Waiuku, west of Auckland.

"A gun's gone off and a person's been hit. My understanding is he was not the person who pulled the trigger so someone else has done it," Senior Sergeant Matt Rogers told NZPA.

"Yesterday was the first day of the duck shooting season. We had a large number of calls from people concerned about other people's behaviour using firearms from a range of hunting-related issues.

"People just have to remain extra safe and vigilant. It's possible there are people who haven't been shooting since this time last year. They're trying to have fun but need to stick to the absolute basics of firearm safety. It's disappointing that on the first day, somebody has been shot and killed," Mr Rogers said.

Police are investigating.

- NZPA