A child's bedroom window has been badly damaged by a shotgun blast in the town of Wairoa.
The child's bedroom where glass was left all over the floor. Photo: Supplied / Eastern Districts police
Tairāwhiti police say it is the latest example of gang-related violence in the region.
The incident occurred at a property in Clyde Street last Wednesday during which "a child's bedroom window was destroyed by a shotgun blast and glass strewn throughout the child's bedroom".
"It was simply good luck that the child was not present in the room at the time," Detective Senior Sergeant Mark Moorhouse said.
A man received serious leg injuries in a drive-by shooting at a Sydney Street property in Wairoa on 5 May.
This comes after another shooting and homicide investigation further north in Gisborne earlier this year, where an innocent woman lost her life.
Moorhouse said it was worrying that in the latest two shootings in Wairoa, several people heard the gunshots but did not report them.
"We are very concerned that a measure of apathy or acceptance may be creeping into the mindsets of our communities and would like to take this opportunity to remind the public that these types of incidents are not OK, and should not be accepted by anyone."
Moorhouse said police had set up Operation Kotare as part of their ongoing efforts to protect people from gang violence.
He was encouraging people to call police immediately on 111 if they hear or see anything concerning in their neighbourhood.
People can also provide information anonymously through Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.