Photo: RNZ / Richard Tindiller
Shots have been fired at a number of houses in Christchurch this weekend on four occasions at the same time of night, with police believing one was wrongly targeted.
Over the past two nights, guns were fired towards properties in Spreydon, Dallington and Riccarton between 10.30pm and 11pm.
Senior Sergeant Damon Wells said it was believed one shots was meant for a nearby property.
"Police believe the incidents are connected and are working to establish the full circumstances of what has occurred.
"In one case, we believe a property has been wrongly targeted, as our enquiries have determined a connection with a nearby address."
No one has been injured.
Wells said police were asking for any information from the public.
"We would like to send a clear message to the people responsible for this behaviour - we won't tolerate this level of violence in our communities."
Councillor Callum Ward said many residents in his suburb of Speydon did not at first realise that gun shots had been fired.
"Quite a few people thought that it was fireworks," Ward said, as part of the Six60 concert happening nearby.
He said it wasn't until later that they discovered it had been gunshots.
Ward said police had increased patrols in Speydon around Hammond Pl, where the shots were fired.
But he encouraged any worried residents to seek community support .