Investigations and scene examinations are continuing this morning following a shooting incident in Palmerston North.
The incident happened in the Farnham Park area of Highbury around 1.10am. It is believed that there had been some sort of confrontation around midnight during which at least one person received some injuries. There is no indication of any firearms being involved in that incident.
Around 1.10am there was a second incident during which shots were fired and one man and two women received injuries consistent with a shotgun being discharged.
Police are making good progress establishing what happened, but at this stage the reason behind the two confrontations is not clear. There is now nothing to suggest that it is gang-related; only one of the four people known to be involved in the shooting incident has any gang associations.
There is some suggestion that a small group of people were having a few drinks in a house in the area and that some of those people may have been involved in the incident.
None of those in hospital are seriously injured. They all made their own way to hospital without ambulance assistance and some, if not all, are expected to be discharged later today.
A team of around 30 police officers have been involved in the policing operation this morning.
Detective Senior Sergeant Craig Sheridan said: "We've concentrated on searching the park area so that we can re-open the area to the public as quickly as possible. We have a couple of houses of interest and these will remain cordoned off until we have finished the scene examinations. No weapon has been recovered as yet, but then the searches are still not complete."
The 27-year-old man from Palmerston North appearing in court this afternoon has had his charges amended to three counts of wounding with intent to cause GBH.
Anyone with any information that might be relevant to the investigation is asked to contact Palmerston North CIB on 06 351 3600 or the Crime Line on 0800 808585.
Media enquiries should be referred to Communications Manager Kim Perks on 06 351 2546 or 027 234 8256.