The father managed to hold on to the intruder long enough for police to arrest him on arrival, Cranshaw said.
"There was a struggle between the two of them until police arrived."
He said both the father and the 25-year-old offender suffered minor stab wounds and lacerations.
"They're not major wounds, just superficial to minor stab wounds."
The intruder was arrested and taken to Waikato Hospital for treatment. The father was also hospitalised for minor wounds.
The arrested man would appear in the Hamilton District Court at some stage today, Cranshaw said.
It didn't appear as though the intruder was known to the family, he said.