A police dog took down a man swinging a samurai sword at passing traffic in Upper Hutt early yesterday.
Inspector Shane Cotter said the man swung a sword at a passing motorist in Silverstream about 3.40am yesterday but missed.
He swung again at police when they arrived.
"The man approached the dog handler with the sword raised. He was asked to put it down but refused to do so, so the police dog was released and took the man to the ground," Mr Cotter said.
He was taken to Hutt Hospital where he had treatment for dog bites to his leg.