Man hunted by police over assault on fishermen

A man who is considered dangerous is being sought by police for a serious assault on two Korean fishermen earlier this month.

The fishermen had gone for an early morning fishing trip at Ti Point Wharf in Leigh, about 80km north of Auckland, at the beginning of April when they were threatened by an axe-wielding man and brutally assaulted.

The Korean men, aged 30 and 28, were both Auckland-based pharmacists who met as students in New Zealand.

At the time police said one of the men suffered serious facial injuries, including a fractured cheek and jaw, as well as a head wound and cuts to his hands and his upper legs. He was likely to require ongoing specialist treatment. The second victim sustained cuts and bruises to his facial area and a possible fractured hand.

Police have now released an image of one of the alleged attackers, named as Robert Eric Austin, 37.

A warrant is out for his arrest, and he is wanted on charges of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, and injuring with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

Austin has links to the Warkworth and Wellsford areas, but has associates in Whangarei and King Country, police said. He is aware that police are looking for him.

"Robert Austin is considered dangerous and should not be approached," police said in a statement.

Another man has already been charged in relation to the attack on the two Korean men. He is currently before the courts, and has been granted name suppression.

Anyone who knows where Austin is, or who has seen him, is asked to immediately call 111.