INJURED: The Terrace End School caretaker walks to the ambulance which has since taken him to Palmerston North Hospital. Blood stains are visible on the shoulder of his t-shirt.

A school caretaker has been shot in the arm while mowing the lawns in what police suspect was a drive-by shooting.

Terrace End School was put on lockdown at about 12.05pm after what police believe was a grey ute drove past the school and shot at the caretaker with a BB gun while he was tending to the primary school's lawns.

The lockdown was lifted about 1pm as parents flocked to the school to check that their kids were safe and sound.

Neighbour Stephen Hodgson lives across the road from the school and knew the caretaker.

"He's just such a nice joker, I hope he's all right," he said.

"Who would do that?"

He said school had been used outside of school hours by disaffected youth and had become quite violent.

"I wouldn't walk a vicious dog through there at night," he said.

The victim was treated for shot wounds to his arm in the school's sickbay and then taken to Palmerston North Hospital for further treatment. He is not thought to be seriously wounded.

Anyone with information is encouraged to call Palmerston North Police (06) 351 3600.