Man injured after hammer attack

A local man is recovering in hospital after he was assaulted with a hammer.

The man suffered serious injuries in the attack, which happened just after 5pm yesterday.

Police were called to Landview Rd in Merivale after reports of disorder.

When emergency services arrived, it appeared a man had been assaulted with a hammer, Tauranga Senior Sergeant Mark Holmes said.

He believed the man's injuries weren't life threatening.

Mr Holmes understood gang members were involved in the assault, but would not comment further on which gangs were supposedly involved.

"We haven't identified the offender or offenders so we are still investigating," he said.

"We are looking at the big picture and trying to understand what happened," he said.

A number of people were believed to have been in the area at the time of the assault.

Mr Holmes urged anyone who was in the area and saw something happen to give Tauranga station a call on 07 577 4300, if they hadn't already spoken to police.