Another police officer has been bashed by teenagers as he tried to make an arrest during a fight at Matauri Bay, 120km northeast of Whangarei, in the early hours of Boxing Day.
The attack follows an assault on a police officer in Hamilton on Sunday and the brutal bashing of Senior Constable Bruce Mellor north of Taihape on December 11.
In the latest incident, the sole-charge policeman at Kaeo was called to a fight at Matauri Bay and found people on the road who police say had been drinking.
The officer arrested a 19-year-old man who was fighting another man.
As the officer struggled with the teen, he was set upon by two others.
One of the attackers hit the officer with a police baton, causing a large cut to his head.
The arrested man and the two other men then punched the officer in the head and body, leaving him with a cut over his left eye and bruising and swelling to his face. A briefcase was stolen from the patrol vehicle as the attack took place.
The officer required medical treatment and had stitches to his head. He is recovering at home.
A 17-year-old has been charged with wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm, and a 19-year-old man with assault with intent to injure and aggravated assault.
Police are trying to identify the third man who took part in the attack, and want to recover the briefcase.
The incident follows an attack on an officer with a knife and machete when he went to a house at Pukete, north of Hamilton, shortly before 5pm on Sunday, after reports of people fighting with weapons.
Two teenagers are to face attempted murder charges in connection with that attack.
Hamilton City area commander Inspector Rob Lindsay said those involved had been drinking and police were concerned about how boys were able to obtain alcohol. "With the holiday period still having a way to go we're asking people to consider where their drinking is taking them."
Mr Mellor, of Waiouru, was attacked from behind with a machete and left for dead on the side of the road after he pulled over a stolen car about 6am on December 11.
He suffered a fractured skull, a broken eye socket and jaw, broken front teeth and cuts to his face, skull, arms and hands. -NZPA
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