A boy had petrol poured over him and was set on fire while at a birthday party in Hastings overnight, say police.
The 16-year-old was in the intensive care unit at Hawke's Bay Regional Hospital in a serious but stable condition this morning, said Detective Sergeant Mark Moorhouse of Hastings CIB.
He suffered burns to his back and neck.
A 17-year-old male has been arrested and charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, he said.
Police were called to an address in the suburb of Akina about 1.40am after the boy, on returning from the nearby party, told his mother he had petrol poured over him and was then set on fire.
