Pensioner faces charges over shooting of hunter

A pensioner is likely to be charged with the careless use of a firearm following the shooting of a hunter in the Urewera ranges on Sunday, the police said yesterday.


Detective Sergeant John Wilson of Rotorua said it was "almost certain" the 68-year-old Huntly man would be charged next week when the investigation is completed.

The 48-year-old victim, who is from Auckland, was in his sleeping bag when he was hit in the shoulder with a bullet from a high powered rifle about 6.30am. Neither man knew the other.

The Aucklander was recovering in Rotorua Hospital yesterday.

Police had been flown into the Maungapohatu area of Te Urewera National Park about 37km south west of Murupara to look for the Huntly man, who had not returned to his camp on Saturday evening. His companions were concerned because he had a medical condition.

The missing hunter had been caught out by darkness and spent the night in the bush. The shooting happened on his way back to camp when he saw what he thought was a deer.

Mr Wilson said the area was popular and "crawling with hunters" because there was easy road access through that part of the park.

"You can just drive in and put up your tent,"  he said.