A Hastings teenager is in a serious condition in hospital after he was stabbed during a fight between rival groups in a public park.
Senior Sergeant Greg Brown said the fight happened between two groups of youths in St Aubyn St Reserve, Hastings, about 5.10pm yesterday.
One of the boys involved in the fight, who is from Hastings and is believed to be 19, received a stab wound and was taken to Hawke's Bay Hospital by police.
A hospital spokeswoman said the teen was in a serious condition last night.
The two groups dispersed after the fight. Three Hastings teenagers, aged 16, 18 and 20, were later arrested for disorderly behaviour.
No knives or weapons had been recovered after the incident.
Police could not confirm whether the incident was gang-related or exactly how many people had been involved.
Mr Brown said police wouldn't tolerate such behaviour.
"It's not uncommon for groups of young people to organise fights and sadly it's also not uncommon for young people to carry knives, despite the consequences.
"We're taking a zero tolerance approach to this."
In the wake of the incident, police spoke to witnesses at the park and searched for evidence.
Meanwhile, a 41-year-old woman was killed and two people, a male and female in their 20s, were injured during a stabbing incident on Auckland's North Shore which also happened yesterday.
45-year-old Brent Scott, the former husband of the deceased woman, was arrested at Auckland Airport after sparking a large-scale manhunt and police believed he was trying to flee to his former home of South Africa.
-Anyone with information about yesterday's incident in Hastings should phone police on 06 873 0500 or Crimestoppers line anonymously on 0800 555 111.