A man was due to appear in the Rotorua District Court today after a sexually motivated attack on a woman in her home.
A police spokeswoman said police were called to a home in Ngongotaha just after 12.30am yesterday.
A woman in her 30s had woken to find a man in her house asking for a family member.
The 51-year-old man then assaulted her in an attack police believe was sexually motivated.
"She fought him off, he left the property and was tracked by a police dog and arrested a short time later," said Bay of Plenty police communications manager Kim Perks.
She said the woman recognised the man, but was not related to him.
She was shaken by the assault but did not suffer any injuries.
The man was charged with assault with intent to rape and was due to appear in the Rotorua District Court today.