A man is recovering in hospital after a shooting in Manukau on Sunday night added to a spate of gun crime over the weekend.
A local told Newshub that getting a firearm in south Auckland is now as easy as getting drugs.
The Manukau City Lodge on Jack Conway Avenue is the location of the latest shooting.
Levi lives in the area - and said he's not surprised.
"This morning we woke up to shots being shot out of a car," he told Newshub.
Police say when they arrived, those involved had already fled the scene. But about an hour later, they located the victim who was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Police say they've identified those involved but no arrests have been announced.
It comes after several shootings across south Auckland at the weekend. A shotgun was fired at an address in Manurewa and a house in Ōtara was one of two properties sprayed with bullets during apparent drive-by shootings. Police are investigating if they're connected.
Police said on Monday there is currently no evidence to suggest that the latest shooting is linked to the gun crime in Ōtara earlier in the weekend.
"It's so easy to get firearms these days really, it's about time we started to crack down a bit more on that extreme violence," said former Police negotiator Lance Burdett.
Levi said getting a firearm in south Auckland is now just as easy as getting drugs.
"It's not that hard just like with drugs. Like where do you buy drugs from? Exactly the same," he said.
It might sound unbelievable, but for Levi it's the new reality.
"It's just not safe to be outside anymore, really," Levi said.
