Two arrested after early-morning attack

Police have arrested two teenagers following an attack on a 32-year-old man in Havelock North on Sunday morning. Photo / File

Hawke's Bay Police have arrested two 17-year-old males and charged them with injuring with intent to cause grievous bodily harm after a "vicious" attack in Havelock North on Sunday morning.

A 32-year-old man was found bloodied, beaten and semi-conscious on Porter Drive in the village's CBD.

He remains in a critical condition in Hawke's Bay Hospital.

Officers allege the victim was "set upon" by two men in an unprovoked attack at about 3.50am. Detectives cordoned off the area for most of Sunday while the scene was investigated.

Yesterday photographs were released of two males captured on CCTV near the Havelock North public toilets, near where the victim was found.

Community Patrol chairman Robin Deacon earlier said the village was "generally pretty quiet" at night. "I'm quite surprised that something like this has happened.

"The crime activity around the village is a lot less than when I joined the patrol several years ago. In the last six to nine months it's been pretty uneventful."

Mr Deacon said much of the night activity in the village revolved around Turks Sports Bar, Loading Ramp and Diva Bistro and Bar, which closed between 1am and 3am.

The two males, both of Hastings, would appear in Hastings District Court today.