Police have charged a man after fatally shooting a hunter on the Te Urewera Ranges in December last year.

Michael William Bennett, 63, was “found dead by a hunting companion and his personal locator beacon activated around 2 a.m.” on Dec. 1, 2023, according to police.

“A 50-year-old man has been charged with careless handling of a firearm causing death and careless discharge of a firearm,” a police spokesman said.

“He is due to appear in Rotorua District Court on Thursday 24 October.

“Police would like to take this opportunity to once again express our condolences to Mr Bennett’s family for their loss.”