Charge laid after man struck with rifle butt

File photo / APN

A 26-year-old man remains in a critical condition in Waikato Hospital after he was struck in the head with a rifle butt and knocked unconscious in Waikato overnight.

A 32-year-old man arrested in relation to the attack will appear in Hamilton District Court this morning.

Police and ambulance services were called to a domestic incident in the coastal town of Raglan about midnight.

The 32-year-old allegedly struck the other man in the head with the butt of a .22 calibre rifle, knocking him to the ground, Detective Sergeant Dave Grace of Hamilton police said.

"The man underwent surgery in Waikato Hospital overnight and is currently in the intensive care unit in a critical but stable condition," he said.

Due to the nature of the incident extra officers were called from Hamilton and Huntly to help Raglan's lone constable.

The 32-year-old, who lived at the address, was arrested and charged.

Mr Grace said the attack was "yet another example of where people allow to themselves to get out of control in a domestic situation".

"What we would ask is that people who find themselves in such disputes take time out, walk away, because the consequences, as we have seen, can be very serious," he said.

- NZPA