Police investigate Wellington assaults

Wellington police are investigating three assaults, which put one man in hospital, after the city hosted the test between the All Blacks and South Africa on Saturday night.

The three assaults happened in central Wellington between 11pm on Saturday and 4am on Sunday, Detective Senior Sergeant Scott Miller said.

About 11pm a 23-year-old New Plymouth man, in Wellington for the test, was assaulted by a young man while walking near the corner of Webb and Thompson Streets. He suffered minor facial injuries in the attack and his wallet and cell phone were stolen by the attacker.

The offender was described as a 15- to 17-year-old male wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt.

The second incident, just after 1am, involved two carloads of people who had an altercation on the forecourt of the BP service station on Taranaki Street. It was believed weapons, including baseball bats, were presented.

"One of these vehicles has then left the BP and driven the wrong way down Wakefield Street, followed by a concerned member of the public," Mr Miller said.

A person in the vehicle then got out of the car and hit the person following, a 28-year-old man, with a weapon.

The third incident happened about 4.15am, when a man walking on Dixon Street was attacked by a group of three young men, who kicked and punched him while he was on the ground.

The victim was taken to Wellington Hospital by ambulance and has since been discharged after receiving treatment for a cut to the head.

The offenders in the incident were described as European, in their late teens, of thin, athletic build, wearing dark coloured hooded sweatshirts.

Police are urging anyone who saw any of the attacks to contact them immediately, Mr Miller said.

"We'll be speaking to two of the victims today and continuing our enquiries but I urge anyone who was in the city on Saturday night and the early hours of Sunday morning and saw any of these attacks to come forward," he said.

- NZPA