Kensington Tavern, in Whangārei. Photo: Supplied / Google Streetview
The police are hunting for a man who last night burst into a Whangārei pub with a gun, assaulted a patron, stole cash from the till and fired a shot into the roof.
The owner of the Kensington Tavern, Craig Woods, said the patron was injured and staff are traumatised.
He said a man wielding a gun burst into the premises via the smoker's area at about 9.30pm, and went behind the bar demanding staff give him money from the till.
He said two staff and three customers were still at the pub as it was closing.
"The staff did the correct thing by giving them the till, and it all happened pretty quickly. But one of the patrons intervened. The offender sort of broke free, and so the patron backed off."
Woods said the patron fell after his tussle with the robber, hitting his head, which required a few stitches.
St John said it took one person to hospital with moderate injuries.
Detective Sergeant Ryan Cooper who is the head of the Tactical Crime Unit said officers were called to the bar at 10pm, after a man entered the bar holding a firearm and demanded money.
He then fired a shot towards the roof of the bar and assaulted one of the patrons, before taking cash from one of the bar's tills.
He then fled the scene in a white Toyota Aqua or a similar model, driven by a second person.
The car had stolen licence plates attached, registration KHA69.
The injured person was transported to hospital, but has been discharged.
Police said they are urgently working to locate the two offenders, and anyone with information is urged to contact 105 online or via phone, quoting file number 250726/2971.
Information can also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.
Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
