Two surfers were reportedly shot at while surfing in a secluded area off the west coast of New Zealand.

Waikato Police said the pair were at Te Maika-Albatross Point off the Taharoa coast when the incident happened.

In a post on Facebook, police said that the shots are believed to have been fired from bushland overlooking the water.

One of the bullets hit just two metres away from the youngest surfer.

"Naturally they were terrified and left the scene," police said, adding officers suspect someone may have taken exception to "strangers using their water".

Police are now investigating the incident, which happened on Thursday, August 16.

Otorohanga police Sergeant Andy Connors, who spoke with a surfer involved, told New Zealand news website Stuff the men heard three shots, describing the incident as "alarming".

"It is extremely dangerous and if you put yourself in the 14-year-old boy's shoes, extremely frightening," he added.

Internationally competitive surfer and Raglan local Daniel Kereopa told Stuff that access to the water has "generally been by invitation only".