A man has been charged in relation to a shooting in Palmertson North this month.

The 33-year-old is due to appear in Palmerston North District Court today, charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm with a firearm.

He is also facing a range of charges after his dramatic getaway attempt, during which he fled on foot after the stolen car he was driving was spiked.

A person was shot in a carpark, just metres from a children’s playground, at 3.15pm on January 12.

The victim was in critical condition and had to be flown to Wellington Hospital to undergo specialist surgery.

Detective Senior Sergeant Dave Thompson said that since the shooting, police had scoured CCTV footage and conducted “extensive inquiries” to find the person of interest.

The investigation came to a head yesterday at 12pm when police were asking questions in Roslyn about a stolen vehicle found on Featherston St.

Thompson said they were able to successfully spike the vehicle on Railway Rd just after 12.25pm, but its driver kept going.

Police chased the vehicle until it was abandoned on Alexandra St, and the driver fled on foot.

He was found about 5pm after “extensive area inquiries”.

Armed officers were seen on Raleigh St, which police confirmed was connected to the incident.

Police said a search of the vehicle uncovered a firearm, which has been seized.

The man is facing a range of charges in relation to yesterday’s events, including two counts of unlawfully taking, unlawful possession of a firearm, failing to stop for police, dangerous driving, and driving while disqualified.

“Yesterday’s arrest was a great result for our community,” Thompson said.

“The work of our frontline and specialist groups to take this man into custody without incident is a credit to their skill and professionalism.

“It was clear from yesterday’s events that this man was very motivated to remain at large and that he was not going to stop until he was arrested.

“However, police staff’s persistence and patience paid off, and we are now able to hold him to account.”