A drugged-up New Plymouth youth who tried to paint the town yellow with a paintball gun yesterday is now facing multiple firearm, drug and driving charges.

The 19-year-old's hour-long rampage began in New Plymouth's Strandon area just before 10am when he started taking pot shots at members of the public from his moving car.

At least one person was injured when hit by a paintball, while numerous cars and houses were splattered with paint.

An hour later, police arrested the Tariki teenager after he crashed into another car.

Sergeant Grant Sawtell said the teenager had fired randomly at cars, pedestrians and property.

A man who was hit by a paintball near the Devon Hotel received a sizeable welt on his arm, but did not require medical attention.

"It just goes to show the potential for injury from paintball guns, especially if it hit you in the eye," Mr Sawtell said.

"It is fortunate that no other person was injured."

A loaded paintball gun was found in the car, along with a cannabis pipe.

Mr Sawtell said the teenager, who was a disqualified driver and was not supposed to have the car, admitted smoking cannabis before his shooting spree.

Police were appalled by his actions.

"Neither has he got proper control of the vehicle, but he's been firing out of the passenger's window.

"He was driving, shooting and trying to avoid police. It was a recipe for disaster," Mr Sawtell said.

The teenager is facing charges including disqualified driving, reckless driving, failing to stop, assault, recklessly discharging a firearm, unlawful possession of a firearm, possession of a pipe to smoke cannabis and driving under the influence of drugs.

He appeared in the New Plymouth District Court yesterday and was remanded on bail to reappear on August 20. Bail conditions include a 24-hour curfew.