Man shoots himself in bottom

A 40-year-old man has accidentally shot himself in the backside with a rifle in Te Kopuru, north of Auckland, this afternoon.

The accident happened on Tatariki Spur Rd in the settlement 13km southeast of Dargaville. St John Ambulance was called about 3.20pm, a spokesman said.

The Te Kopuru man was picked up by the Northland Emergency Services Trust helicopter at 4pm and flown - face down - to Whangarei Base Hospital for treatment.

"He was still talking, so it wasn't very serious," said one of the flight crew.

"I don't know how he managed it."

His injuries were not serious.

- Additional reporting: NZPA