Hunter 'shocked' after attack by masked man

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A pig hunter has described being attacked and robbed by a balaclava-clad man on his way home from a hunting expedition near Te Urewera National Park.

Shepherd Josh Holmes, 20, was hunting in scrub at Ruapapa Station, 13km northwest of Wairoa, about 6pm on Friday, when he was assaulted and had his gear stolen.

It was the second attack on hunters in the Ureweras within the last month, prompting DoC to warn there appeared to be a small group of locals involved in "standover tactics".

It was getting dark when Mr Holmes was heading home from hunting with his dogs on Friday.

He had walked about 20 metres when he was attacked.

"He hit me in the left side of my head," he said. "I blinked and saw a fellow standing there in a balaclava."

He was then hit across the back and fell to the ground.

As he was pushing himself back up, Mr Holmes felt his .243 bolt-action rifle being "yanked off" him.

He then felt his hunting belt containing a skinning knife, LED headlamp and his boss' electric dog collar remote, get "ripped off" his body.

Struggling to his knees, Mr Holmes dived for the offender's legs but he ran away.

After getting to his feet, Mr Holmes tried to get his dogs to slow the offender but when that failed he gave chase.

"I chased him ... but I lost him," he said. "It was dark and I didn't have my headlamp on me.

"He was a good 10 metres in front of me."

The offender took off and a "shocked" Mr Holmes headed back to the station to report the attack to his boss, who called police.

Armed Offenders Squad members searched the station and surrounding land on Saturday.

Senior Sergeant Tony Bates said investigations into the incident were continuing and police were following "some positive lines" of inquiry.

He described the stolen rifle as a .243 Weatherby Vanguard with a black synthetic stock.

Mr Holmes described the offender as a "little fellow" who was wearing dark clothing.

"He wasn't very stocky," he said.

An experienced hunter, Mr Holmes moved to the area in May for its hunting opportunities.

Apart from a swollen face, Mr Holmes did not suffer any other injuries but said he was "gutted" and angry over the loss of equipment estimated to be worth about $2500. The gear was not insured.

Mr Holmes guessed the offender had been hiding and watching him before the attack.

The incident has not put Mr Holmes off hunting but he has a warning for others: "Just watch out in the bush."

In May, seven Mongrel Mob members with knifes confronted two hunters demanding meat and guns.

DoC Opotiki manager Andy Bassett told Radio New Zealand the two attacks appeared to be linked. There was concern that the attacks involved a small group of local people in what appeared to be "standover tactics," he said.

Police have said they are unaware of a connection between the two cases but will look into it.

- HAWKE'S BAY TODAY with NZPA