A patient at Whangarei Hospital's mental health unit has been arrested for allegedly assaulting a nurse and stealing a car from the hospital.
Northland District Health Board is looking into how the female patient in the hospital's sub-acute unit managed to steal a set of keys from the staff office and drive a health board staff vehicle away.
The patient also allegedly assaulted a nurse as she made her getaway.
Whangarei police Sergeant Stephanie Hudson said the nurse was allegedly assaulted by a woman at Whangarei Hospital about 8.40pm on Wednesday.
Ms Hudson said the alleged assailant then drove off in the health board vehicle.