A 21-year-old man who was assaulted in a remote part of the Waikato is now in a stable condition in hospital.
The man was flown to Waikato Hospital in a critical condition after he was attacked in Ohakuri around midnight last night.
A hospital spokeswoman said he is still in the emergency department under observation.
Police weren't called about the incident but heard about it via St John Ambulance.
They are planning to speak to him later.