Bullet fired through policeman's window

Peter Cunningham

A Carterton police officer was unhurt when his home came under fire last night.

Constable Peter Cunningham, 48, had just finished a shift and was sitting in his living room about 11.45pm when a bullet smashed through the window, sending a chunk of glass into the room.

Wairarapa police say Mr Cunningham was lucky not to be hit. His wife and two children were elsewhere in the house at the time.

"It's too early in our inquiry to speculate on why the shooting happened," Detective Sergeant Mark McHattie said in a statement.

"It's just extremely lucky that no one was hurt."

It wasn't yet known if it was a random attack, or aimed at Mr Cunningham or police in general.

Mr Cunningham is one of three police officers in Carterton.

Police are appealing for any information.

- NZPA