Three people are in a critical condition and one man is dead after a "shocking" shooting overnight in the Horowhenua settlement of Waitārere Beach.
A man was found dead at the Waitārere Beach Road property, and police are not looking for anyone else in relation to the incident.
Manawatū Area Commander Inspector Ross Grantham said police responded to a 111 call about 12.40am today.
"Responding officers were told that a firearm had been discharged at the address and when they arrived, four people were found with wounds that are consistent with being shot," he said.
"An adult woman and two older teenage males were located with critical injuries. The woman was taken to Palmerston North Hospital by ambulance and the two males flown to Wellington Hospital.
Speaking this afternoon from Waitārere Beach, Grantham confirmed the dead man was aged 60, the woman injured was 46 and the two injured males were 21 and 17.
The three injured people remain critically ill in hospital.
"Another young person who was at the address is physically unharmed and they are being given wrap-around support."
Grantham confirmed this child was a member of the family.
They were being cared for by other family members.
Grantham said a firearm was located at the scene and a forensic examination of the property would begin today.
He said the officers who administered first aid "very quickly" likely saved the lives of the people who survived.
"It is a confronting scene, it is nothing that anybody should have to experience. Unfortunately we do, and our people are doing the best they can in the circumstances.”
Asked if the 60-year-old man had a firearms licence or was known to police, Grantham said: "I don’t know."
“Next steps will be that our team will conduct a scene examination and eventually the deceased will be removed and undergo a post-mortem examination which will be part of our inquiry.”
Grantham said this was another "terrible, terrible tragedy" in the community.
He said while police are not looking for anyone else, officers would be visible around the area while the investigation progresses.
"We are still in the very early stages of our inquiries, but we are focused on understanding how and why this tragic event occurred," Grantham said.
Waitārere Volunteer Fire Brigade said the road was closed in both directions from the turn off and Grefor Lane following the incident.
"This means no entry or exit currently. The road will be re opened ASAP," a spokesperson said.
In a post shared to Facebook, the brigade offered its support to "all involved - family, friends and all emergency responders".
"Events like these impact small communities like ours in different ways," the post said.
"Please look after yourselves, others, be kind, check in with each other and be respectful."
The town, located 14km northwest of Levin, and 17km southwest of Foxton had a reported population of just over 2500 as of June 2025.
In 2015, the township was rocked by the killing of 10-year-old Alex Fisher, who was murdered by his half-brother Eric McIsaac.
Alex's body was discovered after a three-day search involving over 100 people.
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