An attack on two 17 year-olds outside a bar in Kaitaia has left one teenager with serious head injuries and recovering after neurosurgery.
Police allege the attack started on Commerce St, outside the Big Kahuna Bar and continued across the street in the early hours of Saturday morning.
Detective Sergeant Trevor Beatson said one of the teenagers received serious head injuries and the other was left with a broken jaw and cuts to his face.
The teenager was flown to Auckland Hospital where he has under-gone neurosurgery and is in the Intensive Care Unit.
"Although his injuries were life threatening initially, he has responded well to surgery and is now conscious and reported to be in a stable condition. He is being supported by family and friends who have travelled to Auckland to be with him," Mr Beatson said.
He said a 24 year-old bushman and part-time doorman has been arrested in connection with the beatings.
The man is due to appear in the Kaitaia District Court this morning.
Some shops on Commerce St remained closed on Saturday as police combed the scene for clues and examined the scene of the attack with ESR scientists.
"This is the type of mindless violence which we need to discourage in our community. This could have easily resulted in a homicide inquiry and it appears to be sheer luck and inner strength of the victims and support of the families that no-one died as a result of this violence," Mr Beatson said.
Police are appealing to people who may have witnessed the attack to call Detective Dean Gorrie at the Kaitaia police station on 09 408-6500.
