"The next thing I know my friend was up against a car being beaten up by two different guys, not the guys who had been having an argument."
He and his friend had had a couple of drinks, but were not drunk, he said.
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They managed to make it to a nearby bar, dazed and hurt. His friend was hospitalised with a split lip, tooth and concussion.
The man has not been out in Tauranga CBD at night socially since the attack, which took place at the end of last year, saying he feared a similar incident would occur.
"I don't enjoy the whole vibe.
"It's got a weird vibe, it doesn't feel safe even though there are a lot of police around."