A man shot dead in the Kaingaroa Forest near Taupo earlier this afternoon had been part of a hunting party.
Police said a firearm was discharged and one man died shortly after 1pm today.
The accident happened in a remote forestry area near Tiriti Rd and Western Boundary Rd.
St John ambulance spokesman Mark Tregoweth said an ambulance crew was called out to "a young man with gunshot wounds" at 1.15pm, but due to the remoteness of the area it was an hour before the crew arrived.