KEY POINTS:
An Arrowtown man is in hospital with serious stab wounds following an attack in the township early on Saturday morning.
Detective Grant Miller, of Queenstown police, said the 23-year-old was stabbed in the stomach and neck with a pocket knife.
The man, who is originally from Invercargill, was taken by ambulance to Southland Hospital, where he remains in a stable condition.
Police believe the alleged offender, a 29-year-old Arrowtown man, had a disagreement with one of the victim's friends, which led to an argument between the offender and the victim, who was stabbed during the confrontation.
The offender then went to a nearby dairy to phone his family.
However, the victim's friends followed the man and attacked him outside the dairy, with patrons of nearby restaurants joining in the fight, resulting in a fracas involving 15-25 people, Mr Miller said.
The man suffered a broken ankle, cuts to his face and a black eye, and was also taken to Southland Hospital, where he underwent surgery on his ankle yesterday. He remained in hospital last night.
It appeared the men knew each other and alcohol contributed to the violence, Mr Miller said.
Serious assault charges would be laid when the alleged offender was discharged from hospital, he added.
* A young man was stabbed during a domestic dispute in Spreydon, Christchurch, on Saturday evening.
Inspector Doug Parker, of southern police communications, said a man had been stabbed in his upper arm. Another man at the scene was arrested. The victim was treated at Christchurch Hospital.
"All parties were in their early twenties," Mr Parker said. "Several witnesses were present."
- NZPA
