Victim's partner chased gunmen with samurai sword

The partner of a woman shot in the leg as she slept has told how he picked up a samurai sword and chased after the gunmen as they fled in a car.

Victor Lafaiki was in his Manson St, Palmerston North, home early on Monday when shots were fired at the property, hitting his 21-year-old partner who was asleep in bed and narrowly missing his son Zane.

An hour later, shots were fired at another house in Botanical Rd on the other side of the city, missing the occupant, Makere Paniora, and her 3-year-old child.

Palmerston North Detective Sergeant Brett Calkin yesterday confirmed the shootings were related but would not say if there was any gangland connection.

Police were still waiting to speak to the shooting victim who is recovering after surgery on her leg.

Mr Calkin would not comment on whether the driveby shootings were about trying to frighten or intimidate the occupants of either house.

Mr Lafaiki, 44, told the Manawatu Standard he was at home when the shots rang out just after 1am on Monday, hitting his partner in the leg and missing 11-year-old Zane by centimetres.

"I'm not scared - I've been shot before," Mr Lafaiki said.

After the gunshots he took an "ornamental" samurai sword and raced outside but it was too late - the car and occupants had fled.

Mr Lafaiki said police had warned him against retribution.

"I'm pretty irritated. This was a cowardly thing to do. What happened to fronting up and talking about it?"

When the armed offenders squad arrived soon after he was ordered to drop the sword.

Ms Paniora, who was asleep when her house was shot at, said it sounded like something had fallen off the wall and smashed.

She asked her partner if he knew why his house was targeted but he wouldn't say.

"He won't tell me, and I'd rather not know."

- NZPA