Police are appealing for information from anyone who witnessed a serious assault in Hastings overnight.
The assault, which occurred on Karamu Rd at around 1.15am, left a 49-year-old Napier man with serious injuries.
A Hawke's Bay District Health spokesperson said the man was in the Hawke's Bay Hospital in a critical condition in the Intensive Care Unit.
A 41-year-old Hastings man, who is known to the victim, had been arrested in relation to the assault.
The Criminal Investigation Branch were conducting a scene examination at the scene this morning and the fire service flew a drone over the general area to map it.
The spokesperson asked that anyone who was on Karamu Road around the time of the assault and had information that could assist the police investigation to call Hastings Police on 06 831 0700.