A man is in a serious condition in hospital after being shot in the stomach in the early hours of this morning.

The man, aged in his 20s, is believed to have been shot by a .22 rifle, at a house in Motueka around 4am.

The Armed Offenders Squad were called to the home in Pah St, after reports of a man being shot.

Officers cordoned off the area and entered the property, where they found a man with gunshot wounds to the stomach. He was taken to Nelson Hospital in a serious condition.

Two people at the address are currently being interviewed by police.

A rifle was also recovered.

An investigation into the incident has begun, police said.

- APNZ