Armed police are still on the manhunt of two offenders who shot a Hamilton liquor store owner last night.

Police were called to the liquor store on Greenwood Street about 9.40pm after two offenders wearing balaclavas, one armed with a shotgun and the other armed with a hammer, confronted the 58-year-old shop owner.

The man was shot in the right shoulder and also suffered a fractured skull, believed to have been caused by being hit with the hammer, Inspector Karen Henrikson said. The offenders then fled with alcohol and drove off in a waiting car.

The victim had undergone surgery in Waikato Hospital and was in a serious but stable condition in the high dependency unit, Ms Henrikson said.

The shooting has prompted calls for changes to legislation to self defence laws governing New Zealand citizens.

Virendra Singh, the Papatoetoe liquor store owner who beat up five youths trying to attack and rob his store in 2008, said self defence laws in New Zealand should protect property owners better.

Singh had taken to the attacking youths with a hockey stick in his defence, today told the Indian Weekender “something needed to be done about the self defence laws in New Zealand”.

“We should have more rights to protect property and family,” Singh said. I tried to defend myself, otherwise they would have killed me.

“The minister has said that the self defence laws are clear. I have seen Navtej’s case; he did not resist at all and see what the result is,” Singh said.

Navtej Singh was a Manurewa store owner who was shot point blank by armed robbers after raising his hands in surrender and offering no resistance at all. He died soon after the shooting three years ago.

Regarding the Hamilton shooting yesterday, police searched several homes in the Hamilton suburbs of Dinsdale, Bader and Enderley this morning. They were yet to speak to the store owner but had spoken to his family, who had asked that their privacy be respected.