Police hope to speak to shooting victim

Police are hoping to speak today to the second victim of a Lower Hutt home invasion, after he was shot in the Wednesday night attack.

The 37-year-old man, his 44-year-old partner and three teenagers were preparing for bed when four balaclava-clad men armed with two guns burst into their Stokes Valley home about 9.30pm.

The man was shot in the leg and the woman hit in the head several times with a shotgun butt.

Detective Senior Sergeant Ross Levy of Lower Hutt police said the woman had been "stitched up" and discharged from hospital on Wednesday night, while the man had surgery early yesterday to remove a firearm projectile from his leg.

He remained in Wellington Hospital and his condition this morning was not known, Mr Levy said.

Police had spoken to the woman yesterday and were hoping to talk to the man today.

Mr Levy said a scene examination at the house was completed yesterday, and the examination of a stolen red Mazda Astina four-door liftback, used as a getaway car, would continue today.

The car, stolen from outside Wellington's Westpac Stadium earlier on Wednesday night, was found burned out in the carpark of the nearby Taita Bowling Club.

Mr Levy said Stokes Valley residents should be aware of any suspicious activity, but police did not believe the attack was random.

"Given the fact that a stolen vehicle was used and it was four offenders who have gone to great lengths to disguise their appearance - and they were in possession of two firearms - it has all the hallmarks of a pre-planned attack.

"At this stage we do not believe it was a random attack, however, we have yet to establish a motive for it.

"However, any incidents involving firearms have the potential to end in fatal consequences and that is obviously of great concern to us."

A number of witnesses had come forward with sightings of the stolen car, Mr Levy said.

Police were still appealing to anyone who saw the stolen vehicle either at Westpac Stadium or during or after the attack in Stokes Valley.

Police were also canvassing people in the areas around where the attack happened and where the car was set alight.

It was not known whether the offenders knew the victims but there was no indication the incident was gang-related.

- NZPA