A man was holding a knife to a woman's throat when his attack was interrupted by her 12-year-old child, police say.
Acting Senior Sergeant Nathan White said the 27-year-old woman was cut on her neck and had to have stitches as a result of the incident about 11.30pm on Brooklyn Street in Dunedin.
The woman and a 44-year-old man had been involved in an argument which turned physical.
"He has held a knife to her throat, indicating that he was going to kill her," Mr White said.
"He was holding her down on the ground but as he was a child has come in and interrupted what's going on and that's been enough for him to clear off."