A charter operator is warning boaties of a faction of people on Mōtītī Island after he was shot at this week. Photo / File
A charter operator is warning boaties of a faction of people on Mōtītī Island after he was shot at this week. Photo / File
A charter operator who says his boat was shot at from Mōtītī Island on Tuesday has raised concerns about escalating tensions with some people on the island.
And other operators claim it is not an isolated incident.
An operator, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the incident happenedwhen his vessel was anchored for lunch in a sheltered bay at the island - a spot he had been stopping with tours at for the past 10 years.
After about 30 minutes, he said his party was "yelled at by people hidden in the trees to f*** off or they would shoot holes in our boat".
"We considered this a bluff and said we were leaving shortly.
"A short time later we heard gunshots and three projectiles hit the boat, with some landing in the water close to passengers who were snorkelling around the vessel.
"No one was hurt and there was no damage to the boat, but it was a frightening experience."
He reported the incident to police, who were investigating.
Mōtītī Island has a population of 27 people according to the 2018 census. Photo / File
There are 27 permanent residents of Mōtītī Island as of the 2018 census.
A Mōtītī spokeswoman declined to comment "at this stage".
The operator was concerned about the slow police response to the shooting - a worry echoed by two other operators the Bay of Plenty Times Weekend spoke to.
Police confirmed they received a report of the incident about 1.35pm on Tuesday.
"In this instance, once it was established there were no injuries and no damage to the boat, police arranged to meet the vessel at the marina when it docked later in the day," a spokesperson said.
"Unfortunately, due to operational demands, that did not occur."
The operator wondered if police would act differently if someone was injured, or worse, killed.
"I think police do take it seriously but they are struggling to know what to do with it.
"If they could identify the person then they could arrest them and make it stop but they are struggling to find any hard evidence."
Other charter operators the Bay of Plenty Times Weekend approached said they were disappointed police did not respond more quickly.
One, who also would not be named, said that in his view police had not taken the incident into serious consideration.
"This is a firearms incident, there are people shooting at people," said one.
He said he too had faced intimidation through verbal abuse from the land while cruising through the island's bays.
Archie McTainsh pictured here in 2010. Photo / File
Former charter operator Arch McTainsh said the lack of support from police and Maritime NZ over these sorts of incidents - on the island and elsewhere in Tauranga - led him to leave the industry after 17 years in December.
McTainsh owned Nautic Marine and claimed he had been attacked many times.
"My most recent incident from the island was in November of 2019 - they were going to get a shotgun and shoot me. They threatened me.
"It is a longstanding issue that needs to be dealt with and we as operators feel like we are being totally ignored ...
"We're all trying to get domestic tourism under way and how are we supposed to do that if we get attacked?"
In response to criticism of their response to Tuesday's incident, a police spokeswoman said police had made contact with the complainant as soon as possible.
"Police take firearms incidents extremely seriously and we recognise how distressing this event was for those on the vessel and in the water."
No arrests had been made as of this afternoon.
"Inquiries are ongoing to determine what has occurred and to identify those responsible."
She urged anyone with any information that may assist to call police on 105, quoting file number 210202/5211.
Maritime New Zealand deferred all questions to police because it was now a police matter, a spokesman said.
