Arrest made in Whakatane berry farm shooting

Staff at a Whakatane berry farm and café are relieved to hear someone's been arrested in connection to a shooting at their workplace on Tuesday afternoon.

Detective Senior Sergeant Greg Standen says a 26-year-old man has been taken into custody and no one else is being sought in connection with the shooting.

A man armed with a shotgun allegedly entered Julian's Berry Farm and Café around 1:30pm, demanding staff hand over money.

He was confronted by a customer who was in line for an icecream.

Owner Monica Julian wasn't at work during the incident, but said the customer attempted to diffuse the situation.

"I don't know what she said to him, but the gist of it was, 'Don't be silly. We don't do that around here. Put it away."'

Ms Julian said the customer pushed the gun away and it went off into the ground.

Shrapnel from the shot lodged in the stomach of the woman who confronted the gunman, and another customer was hit in the leg.

The gunman then fled the scene.

The whole incident only lasted about five minutes, Ms Julian said.

Ms Julian said the staff working at the time were quite young and while they were pretty shaken up yesterday, they are doing well today.

"There's a lot of solidarity and comradery amongst them. They are chatting about it a lot and trying to make light of it to try and reduce the trauma of what happened to them yesterday.

"Because I wasn't there when it happened, I was absolutely gutted for them that there were such young people that had to deal with something like that."

Det Snr Sgt Standen has extended thanks to witnesses and the owners of the business.

"While no one was seriously injured this was understandably a traumatising event for all involved and their willingness to assist Police is greatly assisting the investigation," he said.

The shop closed for the afternoon on Tuesday, but was open again on Wednesday morning.

The café posted Facebook, saying: "Yes there was an armed robbery at berry farm today. There were a few people with minor injuries after a shot was fired. But we are all ok. 

"Shop closed for rest of day but open again tomorrow. There is a bullet hole in the floor of the cafe."

Newshub.