Pastor left shaken after attack

Police are seeking information after a pastor was attacked in his own backyard.

A pastor was attacked by a man chanting te reo and wielding a traditional Maori weapon in what he feared to be a deliberate attack.

Flaxmere Christian Fellowship Pastor Nigel Woodley required four staples after being struck in the back of the head by a man who he said had waited in his neighbour's backyard.

When Mr Woodley and his wife left neighbour and assistant pastor Arthur Parkes' home about 9pm on Saturday they thought the person waiting in the yard was a family member.

They realised the tall Maori man in his 20s was a stranger.

When Mr Woodley asked what he was doing, the man started chanting in te reo.

"And I saw a weapon in his right hand."

Jo Woodley spoke some te reo and the first word she heard was "utu" (revenge) which was repeated several times.

As the man raised his arm holding the weapon, Mr Woodley tried to wrap his arm around the man's neck. He thought "it was better to be close to him to limit his room to swing".

He was hit on the back of the head with what Mr Parkes later recognised as a tewhatewha - traditional axe-like fighting staff.

"There was blood protruding and I remember getting hit, then I got dizzy and I was on the ground.

"I was sure there must be another strike coming."

Instead of leaving the property, the intruder stood "in a Maori warrior's stance, holding the axe in the air like 'here I am'."

Mr Parkes, his wife and Mrs Woodley helped Mr Woodley inside and locked all the doors.

When Mr Parkes went back outside the man was "parading" down the driveway while flicking his legs up at the back.

"He was moving side on ... I ran toward him and then he turned around and stood there, holding the axe out toward me.

"He wasn't trying to run away - it seemed like a proud sort of way out."

A Te Papa Taonga Maori curator said tewhatewha were not common and older ones were especially rare.

Mr Woodley said he thought the attack was planned but wasn't sure if it was a direct attack against him or Mr Parkes, or if the man had been mentally unstable and looking for an opportunity.

"When a person parks outside your home, sneaks into your backyard ... he knows where he's at," Mr Parkes said.

To wait in the backyard unobserved, the man had to open the driveway gate and walk down the shingle driveway without anyone hearing.

Mr Parkes said there was a lot of speculation about what could have been his motive but it did not seem like it was an accident.

Both men said they felt incredibly grateful to "God for His protection" as the attack could have been a lot worse.

Police described the intruder as being a male Maori in his 20s, with a No1 haircut.

He left the area in a silver "people mover" vehicle.

Police said if anyone knew the man, or anyone who was in the vicinity of the intersection of Flaxmere and Margate avenues on Saturday, to come forward.

Information should be given to Detective Stacey Bailey, by phoning 06 831 0700.