Two people were seriously injured during an attack in their Auckland home last night.
Photos from the scene in East Tāmaki show blood smears visible on a wall and broken furniture strewn across the home.
Neighbours have told the Herald the property was home to an older couple who had immigrated to New Zealand about eight years ago.
The couple operated a boutique baking business and had boarders but were otherwise retired, neighbours said.
“They [the couple] have never had any issues ever, so that’s why we’re surprised at all the police cars,” a neighbour told the Herald.
“He’s very cheerful, a very happy-go-lucky chap. So is she. They’re both quite sweet ... wouldn’t hurt a fly."
A 27-year-old man has been arrested and was due in the Manukau District Court today, charged with wounding.
All parties involved were known to each other, police said.
Officers arrived at the scene in Lissleton Drive at 8.10pm after reports of an assault.
“Two people have been transported to hospital with serious injuries, and one person has been taken into police custody.”
Hato Hone St John confirmed the pair were taken to Middlemore Hospital.
The victims were in a stable condition.
Photos taken at the scene showed blood smeared across the inside walls. Police had broken the glass on the front door to gain access to the home.
Furniture could be seen strewn across the home.
Police said they were not looking for anyone else, and the investigation continued.
Neighbour Louise Nash was alerted to the incident when she heard a police dog barking.
On opening the front door she saw half a dozen police cars and her two elderly neighbours being helped to an ambulance.
“They had their pyjamas on and bandages around their heads. They weren’t hysterical but they were quite pale and you could see that they were in shock.
“I’m just bewildered that I didn’t hear anything [earlier]. “
Nash described the couple as quiet, and said they kept to themselves.
There hadn’t been any trouble on the street before, but she was now feeling “quite cautious”, Nash said.
“It could’ve been us.”
The pair hosted high school homestays, and police had told her this morning they were trying to find somewhere for two teenage schoolboys currently living in the home to stay.
She didn’t know if the teens were in the house at the time of last night’s incident, Nash said.
Botany Downs Secondary College associate principal Kerrie Holmes said new homestay accommodation was successfully arranged for both students last night.
“The boys are coping remarkably well, all things considered.”
The school maintained regular communication with both the students and their homestay to monitor their wellbeing and offer support.
“Overseas parents and agents have been kept informed since the events of last night, and the boys have had the opportunity to speak directly with their families,” Holmes said.
The couple were described by first responders as having serious injuries, but Nash saw them arrive home from hospital in a taxi this morning.
“I’m just so happy they’re okay, because it was distressing seeing an elderly couple [injured] like that, in their pyjamas.”
An injured woman who answered the door at the house didn’t want to comment when the Herald visited early this afternoon.
Soon afterwards, a woman arrived with flowers.