Disturbing CCTV footage shows moment Herald delivery man was attacked

Soane Mateo was stabbed and hit with a brick at the weekend in Otara, Auckland.

Police have released disturbing CCTV footage that shows the moment a Herald newspaper delivery man was viciously beaten in East Tamaki last weekend.

The footage, posted on Counties Manukau Police Facebook page today, shows two men running from behind the Gull Service Station on East Tamaki Rd and approaching a parked car.

The two offenders then proceed to beat an occupant of the car through the driver's side window.

The serious assault took place in the early hours of August 26 and resulted in the victim, 46-year-old Soane Mateo, being hospitalised with multiple stab wounds.

At approximately 3am the father-of-three was waiting to collect newspapers which were to be delivered later that morning when two offenders opened the door and began to viciously attack him.

Police believe the offenders were armed with a firearm, knife and a brick and brutally attacked the victim while he was inside his own vehicle.

They have then pulled him from his vehicle and continued to beat and stab him.

Detective Sergeant Leleni says the victim is very lucky to have survived this horrific ordeal and "we need to get these violent offenders off our streets and hold them to account".

"The victim was left with life threatening injuries after the attackers were scared off by a colleague who came to his aid. Fortunately, he is now in a stable condition and is recovering in hospital."

"This was a terrifying and completely unprovoked attack.

Police are releasing disturbing CCTV footage in an attempt to identify the offenders.

"We are appealing to anyone who recognises these offenders to contact police.

"Someone will know who they are and we're appealing to the families of these two offenders to do the right thing and hand them in," Leleni said.

Mateo is still in Middlemore Hospital after receiving stomach surgery as a result of his wounds.

He spoke to the Herald on Tuesday afternoon and plead for his attackers to "stop putting innocent lives at risk".

"I am a brother to somebody, I am a cousin to somebody, I am an uncle to my nieces and nephews. I have two boys and one girl and they are the purpose of everything," he said.

Police advise if you have any information on the incident, contact the Counties Manukau Crime Squad on 09 261 1321 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.