A man is in a critical condition in Rotorua Hospital after being shot in a hunting incident in the Eastern Bay of Plenty.
The Taupo-based Greenlea Rescue Helicopter was dispatched to a remote area of bush south-east of Opotiki after a personal locator beacon signal was picked up by the Rescue Co-ordination Centre NZ about 1.30pm. The helicopter was sent with a paramedic on board and a Land Search and Rescue team was put on standby.
Meanwhile further information was received by phone indicating that one man had been injured with a firearm in a hunting accident.
Police said the shot man was one of a party of three men from the Hamilton area. The injured man is in his 20s and is in a critical condition.
Police said an investigation into the circumstances of the incident had been initiated. No further information was available at this stage.