Bottle analysed after suspected mass drink spiking

File photo / Herald on Sunday

A small bottle of liquid found in a Napier bar on Saturday night has been sent for analysis after a mass drink spiking incident sent four people to hospital.

Police were called after four of the patrons at the Cri Bar in central Napier began collapsing, convulsing, dry-retching and vomiting, Detective Senior Sergeant Brian Schaab said.

"They were in a pretty bad way."

Four men, aged 20, 23 and 44 and one woman, 19, were admitted to hospital about 2am.

All were released by Sunday night, a Hawke's Bay Hospital spokeswoman said.

Police found two people on the dance floor of the crowded bar, one in an upstairs bedroom of an adjoining backpackers while another had locked himself in a toilet cubicle, Mr Schaab said.

"Police kicked the door in the door to get to him. This is not a Hawke's Bay thing at all. It's most unusual and we are trying to put it all together."

A small bottle of liquid had been handed in to police by bar staff and that would be analysed, as would toxicology tests on those affected.

Bar staff did not want to comment and toxicology reports were likely to take several days.

Police wanted to speak to anyone who noticed any suspicious behaviour or illicit substances being offered in the bar, and would be speaking to bar staff and reviewing camera footage today.

- NZPA