Man charged after shotgun injury

A man has been charged with a firearms offence after a shotgun was fired by a home owner who believed thieves were on his property.

An 18-year-old man was taken to Kaitaia Hospital on Wednesday where he was treated for pellet wounds and later transferred to Whangarei Hospital for treatment. His injuries are not believed to be life threatening.

The Northern Advocate understands a property owner had fired the shotgun in the belief that people were trying to steal a front-end loader from a property near Houhora, about 39km north of Kaitaia, on Wednesday night.

A 47-year-old man has been charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and was due to appear in the Kaitaia District Court on Friday.

A police spokeswoman declined to comment on the incident, saying that police were still to talk to all parties involved in the incident which occurred about 8.50pm on Wednesday.

Police have seized a number of firearms and plan to interview the 18-year-old, along with several other people, once he is discharged from hospital. Several other people who were on the property at the time would also be spoken to.