Man shot in South Auckland

A man is in a serious condition in hospital after being shot at a property in South Auckland this evening.

Police are currently at a house in Otara, guarding the scene, where a young man was seriously injured.

A spokeswoman for Middlemore Hospital confirmed a 25-year-old man had been admitted this evening and was being assessed.

"We do have a chap with gunshot wounds. He's serious but stable,'' the spokeswoman said.

Police at the scene said they were called to a house on Tyrone Street, in Otara, at around 5pm after reports there had been a shooting.

Inspector Tony Wakelin said: "On arrival we found a young male, early 20s, with a serious head wound. We found a sawn-off shotgun at the scene."

A Middlemore Hospital spokeswoman earlier confirmed a 25-year-old man with gunshot wounds was in a serious but stable condition.

Mr Wakelin said they were still investigating the circumstances of the incident, but said the shooting may have been an accident.

"At this point and time, it's too early to say exactly what's happened. But initial indications are that it may have been an accidental shooting. But that's an initial indication and it may be that that changes.''

One person was being spoken to in connection with the incident and police were not looking for anyone else.

Mr Wakelin said the incident once again highlighted the need for people to be careful around firearms.

"Don't play with firearms at all. Every weapon should be treated as loaded and in this case, clearly it was, and someone's been seriously injured with a firearm.''