Police at a cordon on Makara Beach after a shooting in the early hours of the morning.

Police outside a Makara house where a shot man came for help.

Two people are in police custody after a man was shot on a beach near Wellington early this morning.

Police were still examining the scene of the shooting at Makara Beach.

Locals said they heard police cars, ambulances and the Westpac Rescue helicopter arrive at the scene at about 5.30am.

One man, who declined to be named, said he saw the man being carried out on a stretcher.

Earlier, he heard a car ''flooring it'' away from the beach.

The victim was taken to Wellington Hospital by helicopter with serious injuries. He was now in a serious stable condition.

Detective Senior Sergeant John Van Den Heuvel said a man with gunshot wounds went to an address in Makara Beach, looking for help.

"We have not yet been able to speak with the victim in this incident."

Police wanted to hear from anyone who saw a blue 1990 Mitsubishi Mirage car seen leaving the Makara Beach area shortly after the incident, heading towards Karori.

''Police staff stopped this vehicle at a cordon this morning as it tried to enter Karori from Makara Road. We can confirm the two occupants of this vehicle have been taken into custody in relation to the Makara incident,'' Van Den Heuvel said.

The firearm used in the shooting was believed to be a shotgun and had not been found.

Another Makara local said there were people down on the beach "at all hours".

At first she thought the incident was a boating or diving accident.

''It's a bit of excitement for Makara I suppose.''

The beach remained cordoned this afternoon, with a steady stream of people being turned away by a police guard.