Holidaymaker stabbed at Waihi Beach

A holidaymaker is fighting for his life in hospital after being stabbed in his neck and head when he went to investigate a disturbance outside his caravan at Waihi Beach.

A couple staying in a caravan outside a Waihi Beach Road property heard a disturbance about 1am this morning and went to investigate, Detective Inspector Karl Thornton.

"They have encountered a man and told him to leave but then the husband has suffered stab wounds to his neck and head before the offender has fled. Seriously injured, the man was airlifted to Waikato Hospital in a critical condition," he said.

There were a lot of people in the area at the time, and Mr Thornton said it was these people that held the key to identifying the offender.

Police would like to speak to anyone who heard or saw anything suspicious in the area at the time.