Man arrested in cattle-maiming case

A 21-year-old Gisborne man has been arrested over an attack on a herd of cattle near Gisborne.

"A young man was arrested [last] Friday and charged with theft of animals and ill-treatment," Gisborne police shift supervisor Sergeant Deidre Hemmingway said.

The man would appear in the Gisborne District Court on Friday.

No other people were being sought over the incident.

Police earlier said knives and an axe were used to slash at one animal and chop off the hindquarters of another in a paddock at Muriwai Beach Rd the previous Saturday night. The mutilated animals had to be put down.

One cow was found wandering in the Muriwai village, 25km south of Gisborne, the next day, bleeding heavily and highly stressed.

- NZPA