KEY POINTS:
A New Zealand Army soldier awoke early yesterday assuming he was being hit, only to find he was actually being stabbed, allegedly by a fellow soldier.
Police say the 19-year-old suffered nine stab wounds in the attack which occurred about 1.30am at an Army training base at Lake Tekapo, in the central South Island.
He was treated by a medic staying at the camp, while ambulance and police staff were called to the base, said Senior Constable Brent Swanson.
The alleged attacker, a 17-year-old soldier, had gone when police arrived.
The teenager allegedly made his way to a farm station, about 10km from the Army camp, and stole clothes which he put on after removing his army uniform. Police joined army staff in trying to track down the soldier, and he was arrested by Mr Swanson about 20km south of the camp, about 11am.
A knife has been found.
Mr Swanson said the motive for the attack was an "absolute mystery".
The victim, who was at the camp on a routine training exercise, was treated at Timaru Hospital and was released to travel home to Burnham Military Camp, near Christchurch, yesterday.
The 17-year-old is being held in police custody and has been charged with burglary, and will face other serious charges.
The Army's South Island forces commander, Lieutenant Colonel Phil McKee, said they would continue to work closely with police over the incident.