Weapons used in heated attack

A man was taken to hospital with head injuries after an altercation between two groups on a suburban street in Papamoa.

Police say a hammer and a vacuum cleaner pipe were used as weapons during the confrontation.

Tauranga police Senior Sergeant Cam Anderson said one group carrying weapons attacked the other group at a Dickson Rd property before fleeing the scene.

St John district operations manager Jeremy Gooders said a man in his 20s was taken to hospital with moderate head and arm injuries after the assault which took place about noon yesterday.

Mr Gooders said that by the time ambulance staff arrived the altercation was over and the victim was standing on the street with the police.

The man was in a moderate condition, he said.

"Given what he was allegedly attacked with he was lucky."

Neighbours said they heard yelling and screaming coming from the house just after midday but had no idea what was going on.

"They were all yelling and screaming," said one woman, who did not want to be named.

Several police cars, marked and unmarked, were parked at the house when the Bay of Plenty Times arrived.

Police were seen interviewing a group of about 10 teenage boys.

When asked what had happened, the boys refused to talk about the incident, saying "snitches get stitches, bro".

Police said one youth had been arrested and two others were being looked for in relation to the attack.

Detectives were continuing with inquiries into the assault.

If you have information about the attack phone Tauranga police on (07) 577 4300 or anonymously call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.