Attackers use garden gnomes

A man was left covered in blood after being "smashed" repeatedly with garden gnomes and rocks at a South Auckland property.

Between 8pm and 8.30pm on Wednesday, Weymouth Rd residents in Manurewa saw a group of youths - three men aged in their late teens to early twenties - chasing another youth down the street.

A resident - who did not want to be named for fear of repercussions - said a fight broke out at the top of the street and the three youths continued to chase the other man down the road, intent on "finishing him off".

"They really hoed him in - he had a big gash on his eye, covered in blood. They were throwing the garden gnomes at him and were throwing stuff in my garden - pebbles and rocks [at him]."

The resident and her husband became aware of the attack after hearing yells and objects being thrown around outside.

"Two of my vehicles in my yard were covered with blood. He must have been thrust up against them - we had to wash the cars down and wash the deck down."

The resident said one of the men was heavily intoxicated and seemed to be emotional, kicking the man and yelling obscenities about his girlfriend at the same time.

"We were trying to calm him down but he didn't want to hear. He wanted him to come down and finish him off."

The resident, who tried to break up the fight, said one of the three men stopped beating the fourth man only after being told by the resident that he did not live at the property.

After being told that police were on the way, the three fled off in a grey car.

The injured man ran off towards neighbouring Weymouth Intermediate School.