The shooting of a man in the face and leg while he was camping in the Opotiki region is disappointing and stupid, says the head of the Mountain Safety Council.
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A tutor from the prestigious Auckland girls' private school St Cuthbert's College - who was on a camping trip with students - was hit in the face and leg by shotgun pellets on Friday night.
He received medical treatment for the injuries, which were not serious, and is now back with his family.
A spokesperson for the school said all the girls were well and were continuing with the camp in the Waiotahi Valley.
Police believed there were hunters in the area at the time and were investigating the circumstances.
Mountain Safety Council chief executive Mike Daisley said hunters should check the environment they go into as part of their planning.
"Strictly speaking, if you're on public land, hunting on land, that is illegal. But, from our perspective, hunting at night on land that is publicly accessible - and that could be not publicly-owned land, but just land that is readily accessible by the public - is a bit stupid."