Hamilton police are warning they will take a hard line on anyone intending to ruin the weekend for people attending the V8 Supercar race in the city.
The stern warning comes after a man was savagely attacked early this morning in Hamilton's CBD.
Detective Sergeant Robbie Hermann said
at 2.40am a 47-year-old man was attacked when he walked past a couple sitting down on the footpath on Alexandra Street.
He is in a very serious condition at Waikato Hospital's Intensive Care Unit, he said.
Mr Hermann said the man had made a comment to the couple and a man sitting on the footpath had then attacked the victim - punching him several times, stomping on him and kicking him.
Police caught the offender, a 36-year-old Hamilton man, after viewing security camera footage.
He will appear in Hamilton District Court later today.
Mr Hermann said police were appealing for the woman sitting with the offender on the footpath to come forward.
"She is likely to be a very good witness."
She is described as Caucasian, wearing a white top and black skirt and aged in her mid twenties with black shoulder length hair.
She had fled the scene during the attack.
Mr Hermann said while both the offender and victim were locals he said the public could expect to see a large police presence for the weekend's racing event and would be taking a hard line with any acts of violence or disorder.
- NZPA
