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A man was shot dead near Turangi this morning in what appears to have been a hunting accident.
Senior Sergeant Tony Jeurissen from the Taupo police said an emergency call was received after 9am informing police a man had been shot dead east of the town.
"Police can report that a 59-year-old Turangi man was shot and received fatal gunshot wounds whilst hunting pigs in the Kiko Rd area," Mr Jeurissen said.
He said circumstances surrounding the shooting were still being investigated.
Police were not immediately releasing any more information about the incident, but Mr Jeurissen confirmed no one else was being sought over the shooting.
"Police are in the process of informing the deceased man's family. The family will be offered assistance of victim support," he said.
The death follows the fatal shooting in March of 18-year-old Napier man Aron Timms.
Garth Porter, the father of Mr Timms' girlfriend, allegedly shot Mr Timms after mistaking him for a deer while hunting in the Tarawera area.
He appeared in Napier District Court this month charged with the reckless use of a firearm causing death and faces a pre-depositions hearing on June 4.
- NZPA
