Police seize axe and pieces of wood after Dannevirke bashing

Police have seized an axe and pieces of wood believed to have been used in a dispute that has left a Dannevirke man in hospital with a serious head wound.

The 46-year-old was flown to Wellington Hospital last night where he underwent surgery and was this morning in a drug induced coma, Detective Sergeant Grayson Joines, of Dannevirke police, said in a statement.

Two others had also been injured in the incident which happened after two men arrived at a house in Victor St, Dannevirke about 5pm.

Mr Joines said the dispute was believed to have arisen after an assault on a 13-year-old boy at another location in Dannevirke earlier in the afternoon.

The man in hospital was one of the two who arrived at the Victor St house.

"Several windows and doors at the address have been damaged and a car parked at the address has had several windows on it broken.

"When police arrived they found the victim with a serious head wound on the footpath outside the address."

Mr Joines said police knew the identity of all those involved in the extended family dispute and would speak to them and witnesses today.

The scene had been guarded over night and a scene examination of a house and section was to be carried out today.

- NZPA