Injured man in coma

Police have seized an axe and pieces of wood believed to have been used in a dispute that has left a Dannevirke man in hospital with a serious head wound.

The 46-year-old was flown to Wellington Hospital where he underwent surgery and yesterday was in a drug-induced coma.

Detective Sergeant Grayson Joines said two others had also been injured in the incident that happened after two men arrived at a house in Dannevirke about 5pm on Sunday.

Mr Joines said the dispute was believed to have arisen after an assault on a 13-year-old boy at another location in Dannevirke earlier in the afternoon.