Stabbing: Locals heard nothing

A woman was allegedly stabbed by her flatmate at this house on Limeburners Place in Morningside. Photo / John Stone

The closest neighbours to a house where a 59-year-old woman was stabbed multiple times heard nothing during the alleged altercation.

The woman was allegedly stabbed by her flatmate at a house on Limeburners Place in Morningside, Whangarei, about 4.15am yesterday, Northland police spokeswoman Sarah Kennett said. The woman had been stabbed "multiple" times, she said.

The flatmate, a 29-year-old man from Whangarei, was arrested at the house. The woman was taken to Whangarei Hospital in a serious condition.

A neighbour said the first she heard of the incident was when police knocked on her door at 6.30am. "We were woken by police and we didn't hear anything," she said. While the older woman had been living at the property for a couple of weeks, a young couple in their 20s had moved in over the weekend, the neighbour said.

Detective Senior Sergeant Dene Begbie said he was unable to say what weapon was used or the extent of the woman's injuries.

"Clearly there has been an altercation between those two people involved," Mr Begbie said.

The man was due to appear in Whangarei District Court yesterday on a charge of male assaults female. It was likely he would also face a more serious charge, Mr Begbie said.