A council contractor has been airlifted to hospital in a critical condition after a hunting incident linked to a pest eradication project on an island in Auckland’s Hauraki Gulf overnight.
Emergency services responded to reports a person had been injured after a gun was fired in bushland on Kawau Island at around 12.50am.
St John responded with a helicopter, with the crew taking one person to Auckland City Hospital in a critical condition.
Auckland Council confirmed the incident involved a staff member of one of its contracted companies, working on the council’s pest eradication project.
“Our thoughts are with those involved in this incident – we’re in touch with the contractor and the incident has been reported to the NZ Police and WorkSafe,” said the council’s general manager environmental services, Samantha Hill.
Hill said hunting operations had been suspended until further notice.
“Along with our project partners, we’ll continue to support the investigation in any way we can.”
Acting Detective Inspector Megan Goldie said a 44-year-old man has been charged with careless use of a firearm and will appear in North Shore District Court tomorrow.
WorkSafe NZ had been notified of the incident.
“Our inspectors are making initial inquiries to understand the circumstances,” a spokesperson told 1News.
Hill said the council sent regular alerts and communications to landowners and residents about pest management activities.
“Hunting takes place at night, well after the last Kawau Cruises vessel has departed the island and returned to the mainland,” she said.
“Hunting operations are carried out by professional, specialist hunters working in teams, assisted by thermal devices and under rigorous safety conditions.”
Kawau Island, about 1.4km off the coast just south of the Tāwharanui Peninsula, is a popular holiday and hunting destination.