UPDATED 3.30PM: The SPCA and Fish & Game has raided a Katikati property believed to be linked to the killing of black swans with a jetboat on Tauranga Harbour.

A search warrant was executed on a rural Katikati property earlier today where a number of items were seized and have been removed for further investigation.

Black swans were killed by a jetboat on Boxing Day last year. Photo: TV3. Watch the video footage here.

The raid follows the uncovering of new information on the footage, taken on Boxing Day in 2012, showing seven black swans being hit by the boat, is not the first incident of this kind.

SunLive visited the Katikati home of the alleged driver of the boat yesterday, where the farmer declined to comment and instead referred all questions to his lawyer Mark Beech.

When contacted Mr Beech said he would not be making comment at this time.

The man's father would also not comment, but did tell SunLive 'it is just a terrible situation”.

Under the Animal Welfare Act, anyone who kills an animal in such a manner that the animal suffers unreasonable or unnecessary pain or distress can face a maximum fine of $100,000 or up to five years imprisonment.

A caller to 0800 SUNLIVE, who did not wish to be named, stated this is not the first time this activity had occurred.

Animal Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre (ARRC) Wildlife director Doctor Liza Schneider also confirmed this is not the first time she has heard of this happening.

'It was absolutely horrendous, soul destroying and it's worrisome that people would do that with kids involved.”

Liza says this incident falls 'far short” of the centre's mission statement to help cultivate an attitude of respect and responsibility toward an animal co-inhabitation and the natural heritage.

Fish & Game NZ CEO Bryce Johnson says the organisation was anonymously sent a video of the incident.

'We were appalled by what we've seen, which illustrates despicable cruelty to animals,” he says.

'What we observed in the video is clearly not legitimate, legal hunting by any definition whatsoever, but appears to be callous and deliberate cruelty,” says Mr Johnson.

He says Fish & Game New Zealand, paricularly the Eastern Region, is working closely with the SPCA on the case.

He also says Fish & Game upholds ethnical hunting codes which call for animals to be treated humanely and with respect – and this is promoted at all times.

Mr Johnson says the organisation will continue to offer ongoing support, and will join with SPCA in taking whatever action is thought appropriate under the relevant legislation.

Fish and Game New Zealand manages the bird numbers through a hunting schedule with an annual shoot, which killed 200 swans in 2012.

Fish & Game Eastern Region say there are strong environmental and public safety factors which make a case for reducing the black swan numbers currently residing on Tauranga Harbour.

Black swans have been the subject of regular complaints for leaving faeces on beaches and mud flats, posing aviation hazards at Tauranga Airport and threatening seagrass meadows through consumption.

Swan numbers in Tauranga Harbour during summer have increased from an estimated 1900 birds in 1979 to 5100 in 2010.

The Tauranga SPCA would not comment on the incident until further investigations have been made into the footage.