The decision to charge Auckland gun shop worker Greg Carvell has come as a complete shock to his family.

The 33-year-old has been charged with possession of a firearm without lawful, proper, or sufficient purpose, following the shooting of man who entered the Penrose shop in possession of a machete.

The man received stomach injuries, and was later charged with assault with intent to rob.

Carvell will appear in the Auckland District Court on December 6, and his father Ray says this is news to the family.

He says his son has not formally been charged and they have had to hear the appearance date through the media.

Ray Carvell says this is extremely upsetting as his son was acting in self defence.

So a machete-wielding guy tries to rob a gun shop, presumably to obtain a gun with which to further other criminal acts, is stopped by the store owner using tools available to hand, without even killing him, and then he is arrested for not having a lawful, proper, or sufficient purpose?

What kind of backward, third-world country is this from?

New Zealand - a society based on British laws, part of the Commonwealth and relatively civilized.

It seems as if they still lack a spine...