Police wait to quiz knifing victims

Police forensic staff examine the scene of a multiple stabbing at a property on Kingdale Ave, Henderson. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Police hope to speak to the victims of a frenzied knife attack today to learn what triggered the bloody assault that left five people needing surgery for stab wounds.

A sixth person, a 45-year-old man, was also injured, and was charged with assault when he was discharged from hospital. He will appear in the Waitakere District Court today.

The injured people, who all knew each other, were all expected to need surgery for their injuries.

Three of the injured were last night in a stable condition at Auckland Hospital. Two others were at North Shore Hospital.

Police forensic teams found three knives at the property, in Kingdale Rd, Henderson, yesterday. Waitemata police spokesman Kevin Loughlin said the circumstances were still being investigated although it was believed to be a domestic issue.

When police arrived on the scene, about 10pm Saturday evening, they were confronted with many injured people and "blood everywhere". Officers weren't able to speak to the victims yesterday because of the injuries.

All the injured people lived at the address. Neighbours described them as a friendly bunch who usually kept to themselves.

But they reported hearing yelling and screaming coming from the single-storey brick and tile home on Saturday night.

Bryce Bedford, who lives two doors down, said he was putting his son to bed when he heard what sounded like a fight, loud blows, groaning and moaning.

Mr Bedford said several Asian people, aged from 20 to middle age, had lived in the home for three to four years.

Sharon Whitcombe said she was watching a movie in bed when she heard lots of screaming and yelling and what sounded like someone doing a haka.

Another neighbour, whose home backs on to the site, reported seeing some men wrestling and others trying to break them up.

Forensic experts were examining the rear of the house, which has a basement extension. Yellow and black markers, numbered one to 11, were clustered in two groups on the bumpy clay surface outside the basement entrance.

Police have not ruled out laying more charges or making further arrests.