Neighbours shaken after children's bedroom window shot in Auckand

12:52 pm on 13 December 2023
A house that had its window broken after gunshots were fired in the Auckland suburb of Point England.

Police are investigating after gunshots were fired at a house in the Auckland suburb of Point England. Photo: RNZ / Maia Ingoe

Residents of an Auckland street are shaken after the window of a bedroom where two children were sleeping was hit by gunshots.

A shattered window at the property was visible from otherwise quiet Holland Avenue in Port England on Wednesday.

Residents reported hearing gunshots at about 1am.

No one was seriously hurt but the residents were understandably shaken, Detective Senior Sergeant Scott Armstrong said.

"One person suffered a minor injury from a shard of broken glass, and it was only a matter of luck that someone wasn't seriously injured by this reckless act," he said.

"We are speaking to those affected and providing support, including to two school-age children who were sleeping in a bedroom when its windows were struck."

A woman at the property that had been hit confirmed everyone was "all fine. "We're all okay", but did not want to comment further.

A man from a nearby property said he was concerned for the safety of his young son after multiple incidents in the area.

"We've lived here for 10 years, 11 years… this year is the most terrifying year that we've lived here," he said.

A house that had its window broken after gunshots were fired in the Auckland suburb of Point England.

The shooting has left residents shaken. Photo: RNZ / Maia Ingoe

Another resident of the street said shootings seemed to be "becoming more casual these days".

She had two school aged children.

"It raises a lot of alarm bells. We're immigrants here. We came to New Zealand because of the sell that it was a peaceful country," she said.

"Maybe it's because of the area we live in, but it's also in other areas as well."

A social housing group said the targeted home is one of their properties.

General manager of Tāmaki Housing Neil Porteous said it was saddened to hear of the incident at one of its state houses.

He said tenancy managers were checking with whānau and neighbours on their wellbeing.

There was no police presence at the scene by about noon, but nearby residents told RNZ police vehicles were at the street in the early hours of the morning.

Police are seeking information from anyone who may have witnessed the incident or any suspicious activity.