Police arrest Hawke's Bay man after relative's tip-off

The offender crashed his vehicle after fleeing the property where he shot a 32-year-old man dead and wounded an eight-year-old boy. Photo / NZPA

A man wanted in connection with the fatal shooting of another man in northern Hawke's Bay has been arrested.

Wilson Apatu, 39, was arrested at an address in Clive, 10km south of Napier, after a relative contacted police with his location.

Apatu was on the run after allegedly shooting and killing a 32-year-old man and wounding an eight-year-old boy at a Waikoau property, 45km northwest of Napier, about 2.30pm yesterday.

Cordons were set up on all roads in and out of Clive and armed police surrounded the property before Apatu gave himself up, Detective Senior Sergeant Sean Hansen said.

Police were pleased with the outcome, he said.

"This has been a difficult day for both police and residents in the northern Hawke's Bay area and we are pleased it has been brought to a successful resolution."

Apatu would appear in Napier District Court today on "several charges", he said.

The boy, who was shot in the arm, was this afternoon in a stable condition in Hawke's Bay Hospital.

The name of the dead man, who was a Waikoau resident, has not been released.

Police are not saying if Apatu was known to the victims.

"We are still looking into that," a police spokeswoman told NZPA.

Police wanted to talk to any witnesses who may have seen the shooting, she said.

Mr Hansen said the offender fled the Waikoau Rd property in his own vehicle before crashing it.

He then held up a couple at gunpoint and stole their vehicle. The couple were unharmed.

Police believed he was still in that vehicle, a green Ford Courier ute, registration ZQ7239.

Armed offender squads from Gisborne and Hawkes Bay as well police staff from around the Hawke's Bay were part of the search.

Police had set up road blocks around the area but admitted Apatu could be anywhere.

"It's important that we hear of any sightings of this vehicle in the area around Tutira and Northern Hawke's Bay area or even as far afield as the Napier-Taupo Rd," Mr Hansen said.

Members of the public were warned not to approach the vehicle.

It was not known what sort of firearm he had.

A source told NZPA the gunman had had his firearms license revoked and had told people he wanted to "go out in a hail of bullets".

However, police were not willing to comment on that.

One News reported that the incident was the result of a dispute between two people in Waikoau village.

The gunman allegedly went to another man's house, and the second man was shot protecting the child, locals had said.

Today's incident followed May's standoff in Napier, where gunman Jan Molenaar, a former Territorial soldier, shot dead police officer Len Snee and injured three other men.

- NZPA