UPDATE: Hunter killed in Kaingaroa Forest

FILE

Police have confirmed a man shot and killed in the Kaingaroa Forest today was a member of a hunting party.

At about 1.30pm today emergency services were called to the incident in the forest, near Tiriti Rd and Western Boundary Rd.

The incident was in a remote area of bush, but accessible by vehicles.

A hunting party was present at the location, a firearm had been discharged and one man was dead, police said in a statement.

The area has been cordoned off and police are speaking to the other members of the hunting party and investigating the circumstances of the death.

Earlier:

An ambulance spokesman has revealed the man who died in the Kaingaroa Forest, near Taupo, had been shot.

St John's spokesman Mark Tregoweth says staff were alerted to the incident, in the remote forestry area on a forest road, near Western Boundary Road, at around 1:15.

However, due to the remoteness of the area an ambulance didn't arrive until an hour later.

"There was a young man with gunshot wounds."

The man died at the scene.

Mr Tregoweth says any more details will come from police who are investigating.

Police confirm one person has died, but will not be releasing any more detail at this stage.

-NZME.

Earlier:

Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a person in the Kaingaroa forest near Taupo this afternoon.

Police and ambulance were called at about 1:30pm to an incident in a remote forestry area.

One person died at the scene.

No other details are available for release at this time.