KEY POINTS:
Police say they are considering laying charges after a hunter was shot dead when mistaken for a deer.
They said today that William (Bill) Douglas Prentice White, of Stoke, near Nelson, died late on Tuesday night after being shot about 4pm in the Rough River area west of Reefton.
'Mr White was mistaken for a deer and died from a single gunshot fired by one of his companions," Detective Constable Tania Jellyman, of Greymouth police, said.
Mr White was married with no children.
Ms Jellyman said that he and his two companions went into the area on Monday and had intended staying for a week.
She said that the three had known each other for 20 years and hunted together regularly.
The trio's families were "devastated".
She said that Mr White's companions, who walked out for more than eight hours to raise the alarm, were co-operating fully with the police who were now considering laying charges.
Mr White's body was recovered this afternoon.
- NZPA
