Police investigate Ngaruawahia triple meat clever attack

Ngaruawahia Police investigating an aggravated assault in the town that saw three people taken to Waikato Hospital following an alleged attack by a man armed with a meat clever overnight.

Detective Sergeant Mata John of the Ngaruawahia CIB said one man taken to Waikato Hospital in a critical condition is understood to have undergone surgery overnight while two other men were described as suffering minor to serious injuries.

"The parties at the time were drinking in a public place in Ngaruawahia and were set upon by the offender with a meat cleaver.  Why the attack took place is unknown at this early stage of the enquiry"

Subsequent Police enquiries led to the arrest of a 39-year-old man at a Newton St address and some items were seized.

"That man will appear in the Hamilton District Court today facing charges relating to the incident"

"Several 111 calls were received by the Northern Communications Centre at the time and Police would like to acknowledge all those people who took the time to advise us of what had occurred. At the same time emergency services were dealing with a fatal road crash in the area and the timely treatment and containment of this situation is a tribute to all those involved."