Man charged after shooting

A 21-year-old Cooper's Beach man was remanded in custody yesterday on charges arising from a shooting at Kohumaru, south of Mangonui, on Saturday.

Richard John Drake, who entered no plea to charges of unlawful possession of a firearm, causing grievous bodily harm and discharging a firearm with reckless disregard when he appeared before a JP in the Kaitaia District Court, will appear in the same court again tomorrow.

Police opposed bail and no application was made, while counsel Cathy Murray unsuccessfully applied for interim name suppression, on the grounds that publication of Drake's name could prejudice a fair trial.

Detective Sergeant Trevor Beatson said police were called to the Kohumaru Road address following reports of a shooting shortly before midday on Saturday. The Armed Offenders Squad and other armed local officers were also deployed.

The victim, a 60-year-old man, was found at his home with what were believed to be multiple shotgun pellet wounds to his upper body, back, neck and one leg. He was initially treated by a St John ambulance crew, and was then flown to Whangarei by rescue helicopter.

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His injuries were described as serious but not life-threatening, and he was expected to be discharged from hospital on Sunday.

A woman living near the scene of the shooting said she heard two shots but had not thought much of it until the rescue helicopter flew over.

"Another neighbour rang me last night and told me what happened," she said.

"Everyone around here knows both parties."

Detective Sergeant Beatson said the shooting was believed to have stemmed from a "neighbourly dispute" that escalated to violence. AOS and police staff had cleared a number of addresses seeking those involved by late Saturday night, but were looking for a dark coloured, possibly black Toyota Hilux Surf four-wheel-drive vehicle registration ASL687, which had been involved in the incident, and were wanting to talk to Drake.

There was no concern that those involved posed a risk to the greater community, but he warned that "they" should be treated with caution, and should not be approached.

Anyone who saw the Hilux on Saturday is asked to contact the police in Kaitaia on (09) 408-6500.