Police Minister Stuart Nash speaks to Newstalk ZB’s Mike Hosking after gangs were responsible for firearms incidents in both Ruatoria and Napier over the weekend. Audio / Newstalk ZB. Photo / Mark Mitchell
A road was closed and residents told to stay inside during a firearms incident in Ruatoria this morning.
The incident on McClutchie Rd was reported about 9.20am, police said.
A Ruatoria resident, who lives about 300m from where the incident started, said he was alerted after hearing about four gunshots.
The aftermath of an incident involving firearms in Ruatoria today. Photo / Supplied
He and his wife headed towards a local sports field and heard about another 10 gunshots and then saw an altercation involving several men. One was chasing a man with what looked like a "club".
McClutchie Rd, in Ruatoria, is closed to through traffic following the firearms incident. Photo / Google Earth
At least one man then fled the scene in a 4WD which crashed on Ruatoria's main street.
The road was closed to through traffic and residents in the area were advised to stay indoors. No injuries have been reported.
The road had since been reopened, and police believed the incident involved parties known to each other and related to a vehicle collision on Waiomatatini Rd.
Police were working to locate those involved following "strong lines of inquiry', a police spokesperson said.
