A Hamilton man was shot in his own home on Wednesday in what police say was a "targeted attack".
The 35-year-old is in Waikato Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Inspector Freda Grace says a group of offenders arrived on Derby St, Nawton on Wednesday evening with the intention of shooting the man.
They first knocked on the door of his next-door neighbour, mistakenly believing he was their target. When the resident opened the door, there was an altercation which left the man shaken but uninjured.
Realising their mistake, the perpetrators then approached the target's house. They fired a number of shots at about 10:25pm, hitting the man inside his own home. The offenders fled the scene in several vehicles.
Inspector Grace says Hamilton Police are still examining the scene of the shooting and are looking for those responsible. They have yet to establish whether the incident was gang-related.
"We want to reassure the community that they have no need to be concerned following this incident - this was not a random attack," she says.
"The fact an innocent member of the public was accidentally caught up in this incident is upsetting. This kind of behaviour is simply not acceptable, and we are determined to find those responsible."
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Police want to speak to anyone who was in the Nawton area around the time of the shooting who saw anything suspicious, or anyone with information about the incident.
They are urged to called Hamilton Police on (07) 858 6200 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
The shooting is the latest in a string of serious incidents across the Waikato region, including the deaths of three men over the June-July period.
"At this point in time, there is nothing to suggest these incidents are connected," Inspector Grace says.
"Investigations like this are complex and can take time, however we want people to know that we are taking this seriously and are confident we will hold people to account."
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