Two shootings in Wairoa

Police in Wairoa are investigating two shootings in the East Coast town on Saturday.

In the first at 1.15am on Saturday a shot was fired from a passing vehicle at a Kitchener Street property but smashed the glass of the neighbouring property's ranchslider near where children were asleep

A wall was peppered with pellets but the children were unharmed.

The driver had apparently returned to the street shortly after the car's windscreen was smashed with a bottle.

Police said they were still investigating the incident and had seized the vehicle involved.

A second incident occurred at 8pm on Saturday when the occupants of a vehicle fired seven shots from a rifle at people on a veranda at a Karaka Street property, before speeding off.

Police are not ruling out the two shootings are related.

- NZPA