New Zealand / Regional

Man sought after gang member shot

18:01 pm on 13 February 2011

Police are still searching for the person who shot a gang member in Wairoa on Sunday morning.

A Mongrel Mob gang member is in Hawke's Bay Hospital in a serious condition following the incident.

Police say four gang members were confronted in the northern Hawke's Bay town at about 8.30am by a rival gang member, who fired a gun at the group.

A 42-year-old man was shot in the shoulder and taken by his associates to Wairoa Hospital.

He was later flown to Hawke's Bay Hospital, in Hastings, and remains in a serious condition.

Police are looking for a 19-year-old man in connection to the incident.

Detectives and the armed offenders squad from Gisborne are in Wairoa assisting local police with enquiries, and have carried out searches at several properties.

Meanwhile, police say there have been two other violent incidents in Wairoa this weekend.

Just before midnight on Saturday, three men were set upon by a group outside a sports club.

As a result, an 18-year-old man was flown to Taranaki Hospital with serious facial injuries.

His two companions, aged 18 and 20, received moderate facial injuries.

At about the same time as the sport club attack, a 30-year-old woman was struck in the face with a bottle while attending a 21st birthday party.

She received a cut to her right eye.