A young man was left lying unconscious on the ground after being ambushed by a group of men on his way home from work in the Hutt Valley.
Detective Constable Ryan Chinnock said the victim, in his early 20s, was assaulted after finishing work at a shop in the Naenae shopping centre at 10pm last night.
"As the victim was walking behind the Naenae swimming pool he was approached by a group of approximately four men and assaulted with what is believed to be a bottle."
The victim was left unconscious on the ground before being discovered by a passer-by, Mr Chinnock said.
He was admitted to hospital with lacerations to his face.