Row over rubbish fire ends in shots

A row over a rubbish fire between neighbours yesterday ended with shots being fired and the arrest of a wheelchair-bound man.

The drama began just before 7pm after police received reports of gunshots from a rural property on Tokiri Road in Mangakahia, west of Whangarei.

Police said a man lit a rubbish fire which produced a lot of smoke, upsetting his wheelchair-bound neighbour when the smoke drifted over his property and house.

The neighbour allegedly fired a shot in the direction of the rubbish fire.

The disabled man also started his own blaze setting alight some green grass on this boundary causing a lot of smoke.

By the time the armed offenders squad arrived had the alleged gunman was sitting in his car, police said.

He was arrested without a problem.

A man was due to appear in Whangarei District Court today facing several charges including attempted arson, possession of a firearm, presenting a firearm, careless discharge of a firearm and cultivating cannabis.

- NZPA