Police who received a call reporting a man had been shot in Victoria Ave arrived to find no crime scene, but an "extremely intoxicated" man.
A police spokesman said officers were called to the scene in Central Wanganui at about 8pm on Wednesday. A St John Ambulance crew was also en route to the scene, but was stood down before getting there, another spokesman said.
"He rang saying that someone had been shot in the Ave," Senior Sergeant Andrew McDonald said.
"Police staff arrived and spoke to the offender and assessed that the original complaint was false and that the male was intoxicated."
The man was arrested and assessed for his "health and well-being".
Police have since charged him with criminal nuisance and he will appear in the Whanganui District Court.