Police are piecing together a violent incident in east Christchurch last night to establish how a person was shot and seriously wounded.

Emergency services were called to Aldershot St in Aranui at about 10.20pm after a firearms incident was reported.

One person was taken to Christchurch Hospital in a serious condition.

A police spokesperson said this morning initial indications were that the incident was family harm-related.

Officers were still at the scene and the house - owned by Kainga Ora, formerly Housing New Zealand - was cordoned off.

Police were also called to a serious family harm incident in Tokoroa about the same time.

"This appears to be family harm-related. One person was taken to hospital," the police spokesperson said.

That incident occurred on Kowhai St and was under investigation.