Police hunt man after Palmerston North stabbing

Police are hunting a man in his 40s after a man was stabbed while on a break from a rehabilitation programme for offenders in Palmerston North this morning.

The victim, 20, was admitted to Palmerston North Hospital with non-life threatening injuries after he was attacked outside the Community Probation Service building on Church Street about 10.10am, police said.

The offender, described as Maori, in his 40s, with scruffy hair and tattoos on the left side of his neck and over his right eye, allegedly stabbed the victim after approaching him from a parked car.

Witnesses also reported seeing a woman in the vehicle, described as a two-tone grey Holden Commodore.

Detective Sergeant Gary Milligan said police were yet to establish a motive.

"From what we have been told by witnesses there was no conversation between the two men; the offender simply got out of the car, stabbed the victim and left," Mr Milligan said.

He praised probation centre staff.

"Staff from the probation centre were very quick to respond to the incident and carried out first-aid on the victim while they waited for the ambulance to arrive."

Police wanted to hear from any witnesses and anyone with information about the attacker or his vehicle.

- NZPA