Court sequel over knife in face

The man arrested in connection with a stabbing that left a 15cm blade embedded in another man's face is due to appear in court today charged with attempted murder.

Vance Paraki Tuheke was arrested on Saturday night after being found by police at a house in Ruawai, south of Dargaville.

Police had been hunting for him since the early hours of Friday, when he allegedly stabbed a 36-year-old man in the face.

The 15cm-long, 3cm-wide blade broke off and was embedded in the front of the victim's face with the tip resting on the victim's eye muscle.

It is alleged Tuheke left the Albany house after the stabbing and met up with his 22-year-old ex-partner and their 2-year-old son.

The woman and child were also found at the Ruawai house when police arrested Tuheke and are being spoken to by police.

Tuheke, 31, is due to appear in the North Shore District Court today charged with attempted murder.

Police said early indications were that his ex-partner, and their child, were staying with him at the Ruawai house of their own free will.

Meanwhile, an Auckland City Hospital spokeswoman said the stabbing victim remained in hospital in a stable condition.

He had the blade removed from his face on Friday.