A 33-year-old man has been charged after an axe attack on another man outside the Z service station in Greymouth this morning.
Police area commander Inspector Mel Aitken said they were called to the Whall St garage after a report of an altercation between two men - one wielding an axe - at the rear of the building.
One of the men was struck with the blunt end of an axe. He was not seriously injured.
"It was very fortunate that it was the blunt end," Aitken said.
Police tracked down the alleged assailant about an hour later, and charged him with assault with intent to injure. He will appear in the Greymouth District Court tomorrow.