10:30am update: A man remains in hospital after a serious assault outside the Pleasant Heights shops in Rotorua on Tuesday and police say while they are following some positive leads they are still keen to talk to any witnesses.
Police said the attack would appear unprovoked. The 19-year-old man was with a friend in a cream-coloured car in the parking area outside the shops on Thomas Crescent at approximately 2pm when they were approached by a male Maori in his 30s.
The victim sought refuge at a nearby address but the offender followed him and the assault continued at the rear of that address.
He suffered serious internal injuries. His friend was also assaulted to a lesser extent. Police said initial enquiries suggested the two men who were assaulted did not know their attacker.
If you witnessed this incident or have any information that might assist us please call police on 07 348 0099. Information can also be provided anonymously to the organisation Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
Earlier story:
Police are searching for a man after an apparently unprovoked attack left a 19-year-old in Rotorua Hospital with serious injuries.
The attack happened about 2pm on Tuesday outside the Pleasant Heights shops (pictured above) on Thomas Cres, Rotorua.
Rotorua police said the victim, a local man, was with a friend in a cream-coloured vehicle in the parking area outside the shops when a man approached the vehicle.
The wanted man "assaulted the victim in what appears at this stage to be an unprovoked attack", police said.
Police said the victim entered a nearby address "seeking refuge" but the offender followed him and the assault continued.
His friend was also assaulted to a lesser extent.
Friends and family of the victim took him to hospital and police were notified.
He was recovering last night in a stable condition in Rotorua Hospital with serious internal injuries.
Yesterday there were several police cars patrolling Thomas Cres and Turner Dr.
Workers at one of the shops told the Rotorua Daily Post they did not hear or see a thing.
"When we were told about it we wondered if they had got the wrong shops because we didn't see or hear anything even though we were in the shop all day," said one shop assistant.
Police said the offender was believed to be a Maori male in his 30s, and possibly had a vehicle also parked at the scene.
Due to the victim's condition police were yet to interview him in detail, but initial inquiries suggested the two men who were assaulted did not know their attacker, police said.
They said they were following some positive lines of inquiry in regard to the identity of the offender.
If you saw the incident or have any other information that might assist, please contact Rotorua police on (07) 348 0099.
Information can also be provided anonymously to the organisation Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.