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Rotorua police say they are confident they know the gunman in a road rage incident , but must wait for forensic evidence before making an arrest.
It was believed the attacker had become enraged when the car driven by the 32-year-old victim followed too closely last Thursday.
He stopped and approached the other driver, shooting him in the face and arm with a high-powered air gun.
Detective Senior Sergeant Mark Loper said today the victim had been discharged from hospital on the day and was recovering well.
He said the shot to the face had entered the man's cheek, travelling along the line of the bone before exiting at the bottom of his ear.
Police searched scrubland near Rotorua on Monday after finding the white Subaru the gunman had been driving.
Mr Loper said police were "reasonably confident" they knew the shooter, but could not arrest him until forensic evidence was returned. He could not say when this would be done.
The suspected gunman was described as solid to fat, bald and aged between 40 and 50. He had a goatee and was about 1.75m tall.
Mr Loper said he may be "unpredictable" due to his drug use.
Anyone with information on the gunman was asked to contact Rotorua police.
A second, unrelated, road rage attack occurred in the region on Sunday when 20 gang members, believed to be part of either Black Power of Westside, smashed up a car containing three teenagers on their way to a baptism.
- NZPA
