Man stabbed in Whitianga

File photo / NZH

A man was left fighting for his life after a stabbing in Whitianga in the Coromandel early today.

Police are appealing for witnesses to come forward, particularly those who may have taken photographs of the incident.

Detective Senior Sergeant Nigel Keall, of Waikato CIB, said a police officer came across an injured man on the grass verge outside the Beach Backpackers Lodge on Buffalo Beach Rd, about 400 metres from the intersection of the main road and the central business district, about 5.15am.

"It appears two men have become involved in an altercation with a man and a woman on the verge," he said.

"One of the pair of men has been stabbed with a bottle and suffered what were, at the time, life-threatening injuries."

The 23-year-old man was flown to Waikato Hospital by helicopter where he was stabilised and listed as being in a very serious, but non-life threatening, condition, in the intensive care unit. He was being taken up to Auckland Hospital by ambulance for surgery today.

Mr Keall said one of the difficulties for those investigating the incident was that the victim was extremely uncooperative and had even tried to leave hospital before collapsing.

"His associate was also uncooperative, the other people involved have yet to be identified and we believe one of them may also have been injured."

There were several people at the scene when the incident happened and Mr Keall said police want to speak to them.

"We're appealing for any witnesses or anyone else who has any information to come forward, particularly those we believe may have taken photographs either on their cell phone or with cameras.

"On a number of occasions, including a homicide in Hamilton earlier in the year, such images have proved a huge advantage to investigators and we're hoping someone out there may have an image that could assist us with the investigation," Mr Keall said.

Anyone with any images or information on what happened should contact Detective Sergeant Martyn Hughes at Whitianga police station.

- NZPA