Shot boy's father forgives gun owner

A hunter whose negligence led to the shooting of a 10-year-old boy has been forgiven by the child's father.

Albert Hurihanganui, 32, unemployed, has admitted he caused his nephew Anthony to be shot in the stomach with a hunting rifle.

Hurihanganui had left the loaded rifle with his own son - aged 6 - and his nephew during a pig hunting expedition in April near Rotorua.

The young cousins were told "don't touch" - but the rifle went off minutes after Hurihanganui had chased a pig into scrub.

He rushed back to the children to find Anthony had been hit at close range in the stomach after the 6-year-old had apparently picked up the rifle.

A bullet had entered the side of Anthony's back and hit his bowel and stomach.

Albert Hurihanganui now faces the prospect of jail after his conviction in Rotorua District Court on Monday for careless use of a firearm causing injury.

But his brother says a jail sentence would be too harsh.

Dean Hurihanganui said he did not want his brother to go to jail, and felt sorry for his 6-year-old nephew.

"It was just an accident. It's an easy thing to happen."

Anthony had undergone a life-threatening operation to repair major organs, and spent many weeks in Starship Hospital and Rotorua Hospital.

He is recovering at home now but will need more surgery.

When interviewed about the incident by police last week Albert Hurihanganui said he had been hunting since he was a boy. He admitted he should have taken the bolt out of the rifle.

Dean Hurihanganui said his son was recovering well but still required a colostomy bag.

The Reporoa Primary School boy was expected to return to Starship hospital in a few months for further surgery.

Dean Hurihanganui said his family had received a lot of support from the Reporoa community.

Albert Hurihanganui's lawyer, Katherine Ewen, said police had asked her to refer her client to the restorative justice programme.

Rotorua District Court judge Chris McGuire said the restorative justice programme was only an initial step.

"There are some aspects of this case which are profoundly concerning. There are other aspects which take it out of a bad category," he said.

Judge McGuire also requested a pre-sentencing report. He said that although restorative justice was being considered, that could not be taken as any indication of the sentencing outcome on August 24.

- NZPA