• One person is dead and another seriously injured after a shooting on the remote 309 Rd between Coromandel Town and Whitianga on Coromandel Peninsula yesterday. 
• A man, 77, has been charged with murder and attempted murder, police said. 
• A witness said it appeared the two young male victims were pig hunters, and described giving CPR to one who had been “shot in the chest”. 

A 77-year-old man has been charged with murder and attempted murder after an incident in the remote Coromandel Peninsula settlement of Waiau, police say. 

One man died and another person - also believed to be male - was flown to hospital with gunshot wounds after a shooting incident on the remote 309 Rd between Coromandel Town and Whitianga yesterday afternoon. 

The injured man remains in a serious condition in hospital this morning and a post-mortem examination on the deceased victim would take place today, police said. 

The man charged with murder and attempted murder will appear in Hamilton District Court today, they said. 

“The 309 Rd has reopened, however a scene examination at a property on the road is ongoing today and nearby residents can expect to see a continued police presence in the area. 

“Inquiries into the circumstances leading to the incident are ongoing.” 

Police at a roadblock in Coromandel after yesterday's shooting. A man, 77, has since been charged with murder and attempted murder. Photo / Al Williams 

‘Critical incident’ 

Police described yesterday’s shooting as a “critical incident” after the alarm was raised just before 2pm. 

“Police were called to the 309 Rd just after 2pm, where two people were located with gunshot wounds,” a police spokesperson said yesterday. 

“Members of the public provided CPR to one person, but sadly they died at the scene a short time later.” 

A second person was flown to Auckland City Hospital with serious injuries, while a third had been taken into custody - and police weren’t looking for anyone else, they said yesterday. 

The shooting incident occurred yesterday on the remote 309 Rd, a 22km gravel link between Coromandel and Whitianga. A man has since been charged with murder and attempted murder. Image / Herald Network graphic 

Witness describes giving CPR to victim 

The owner of nearby tourist attraction Waterworks said a person ran on to his property about 2pm yesterday saying someone was lying on the ground near the road. 

The person was “shot in the chest” and was pronounced dead at the scene, said the man, who asked to only be known as Jeff. 

“I ran out with my first aid kit and put him into the recovery position ... I gave him CPR for 15 minutes before the Westpac helicopters arrived.” 

A second person, who he believed had been shot in the shoulder, was lying on the ground nearby. 

It appeared the victims had been pig hunting, Jeff said. 

“There was a pig on the back of [the deceased’s] ute, and it looked like he was in the process of butchering it. 

“It appeared he had tried to move away from the vehicle, but I found him lying on the ground beside his ute.” 

The dead man appeared to be about 30 years old, he said. 

”The other person wasn’t in the vicinity where I was, but I understand he was younger.” 

Person flown to hospital after shooting 

Two Auckland Westpac Rescue Helicopters flew to the 309 Rd after the alarm was raised, with police also closing the road as emergency services responded. 

“Crew are transporting a patient to Auckland City Hospital from the Coromandel following a shooting incident this afternoon,” an Auckland Westpac Rescue Helicopter spokesperson said. 

An Auckland Westpac Rescue Helicopter crew flew a seriously injured person to Auckland City Hospital after a shooting in remote Coromandel Peninsula yesterday. Photo / Auckland Westpac Rescue Helicopter 

They were told of an incident in Waiau at 1.56pm, a Hato Hone St John spokesperson said yesterday afternoon. 

“One ambulance, one first responders unit, and two helicopters attended. One patient in a serious condition is being airlifted to Auckland City Hospital.” 

‘Interesting people’ down road 

The 309 Rd is a 22km gravel road between the towns of Coromandel and Whitianga. 

Any sort of violence was unusual for the area, Coromandel Flying Club member Neville Cameron said. 

He’d watched two helicopters hovering over the 309 Rd for nearly an hour yesterday. 

“There are some interesting people down [the 309 Rd], but you wouldn’t expect gun violence.” 

“Don’t go 309 Rd this arvo,” a local warned on Facebook. 

Another said they had seen “heaps of police cars” speeding past on nearby Tararu Rd.