An 86-year-old woman was left terrified after a suspected gang attacker fired shotgun blasts at her house in the West Auckland suburb of Avondale.

The woman, Rosemary Rudolph, said on Saturday morning that she was left shaken and scared after her Cradock St house and car were fired at at 1.30am on Saturday.

"I heard these four; bang, bang, bang, bang. Four shots, like that," Rudolph said.

DAVID WHITE / FAIRFAX NZ Rudolph was terrified after her Avondale house and car was fired at overnight.

She said two gang members - who she believed belonged to the King Cobras - were asking her son for money on Friday afternoon, and when he refused, returned later that night and gunned the place.

"About 2 o'clock yesterday afternoon, my son came out to meet me and said 'mum, our door's been kicked in'," Rudolph said.

She said "two big huge guys" asked her son for money, and when the son said he didn't have any and closed the door on them, they forced their way in.

DAVID WHITE / FAIRFAX NZ Gunfire smashed out the house's widows.

"He shut the door but one of them kicked the door open."

They eventually left but returned later that night with guns.

"I thought the neighbour was letting crackers off again.

"So I came out in my dressing gown ... and I was going to look outside but I thought better of it - I didn't really know that the windows had been shot out."

Rudolph said it was lucky her son was out at the time.

"He was out with one of his friends, and he didn't come till right after it happened, because he could have been killed ... [the gunfire] was right over his bed.

"He would have been in bed and had the full blast of it."

She said that after calling the police, two armed officers were stationed outside her house for the rest of the night so she could get some sleep. More police arrived in the morning and began carrying out a forensic scene examination.

Police confirmed the incident, saying a number of shots were fired at the house and a vehicle on the residential street.

"It is of concern that shots would be fired at a dwelling and a vehicle," said Detective Senior Sergeant Glenn Baldwin.

"Whilst there was huge potential for someone to get hurt, fortunately no-one was injured."

Police are continuing to make inquiries and were canvassing residents in the area, seeking to identify the people responsible.



"As a result of our ongoing enquiries, local people should expect to see a police presence in the area," said Baldwin.

Police ask anyone with information to contact Auckland Central Police Station on 09 302 6400.

Alternatively, details can be passed to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.