Police looking for suspects after netball stabbing

Police say the fight was between two men who were supporting different sides in a school netball game. Photo / File

Police are looking to round up 10 alleged offenders by the end of the day over a brawl which left an 18-year-old with a knife protruding from his chest.

The fight between two warning Taumarunui families broke out at a home on Taupo Rd at about 1:30pm on Saturday.

It was sparked by an argument where two men traded insults and threats at a school netball game.

Ruapehu Area Commander Steve Mastrovich said one of the families decided to escalate the confrontation into a fist fight after the game.

They travelled to the home of the other family and began assaulting them with bottles of alcohol and firewood, he said.

During the ensuing fight, a man who lived at the home grabbed a kitchen knife and stabbed it into the chest of an 18-year-old man.

"One thing led to another and both of them are lucky there wasn't a death."

The injured man was flown to Waikato Hospital, where he was in a stable condition following surgery.

Mr Mastrovich said four people had appeared in Taumarunui District Court after being arrested the incident.

Police were looking to arrest six more by the end of the day, he said.

"We're looking to send a message that we're not going to put up with this. We'll get the message through to them."

- Herald Online staff