A South Auckland man has been arrested and charged over a brutal sword attack on a woman in her Hamilton home.
Police have confirmed a 47-year-old Pukekohe man was arrested and faces a number of charges including wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and breaching a protection order.
He will appear in the Hamilton District tomorrow.
The man allegedly attacked the 50-year-old woman in her Hamilton home with a ceremonial sword last night. Police launched a manhunt and this evening Detective Senior Sergeant Ross Paterson said members of the public identified the alleged offender and contacted police.
"With the assistance of others present he was detained until the arrival of the police," Mr Paterson said.
"Working across district with the Counties Manukau police we were able to have staff in the area where we believed the man was this afternoon. This allowed an immediate response to support the members of the public when they called for police."
Earlier today police Mr Paterson held a press conference in Hamilton saying the man was on the run and classified as armed and dangerous.
He told media that the victim suffered "severe" injuries in the 8pm attack but was currently stable in a Waikato Hospital ward.
"She had some injuries to her head and her arms as a result of the sword attack. She will require significant treatment at the hospital but she is in a stable condition."
After intervention from another occupant of the house, the alleged offender fled with what police believe were the sword, an axe and possibly handgun.
The woman's two children, who were home at the time, were currently staying with family and friends, he said.
He confirmed the sword belonged to the injured woman but where the axe and handgun originated from would form part of their investigation, he said.
He wouldn't comment on the relationship between the alleged offender and the injured woman other than to say the pair were known to each other, and that he had visited the house in the past.
One of the victim's neighbours saw the victim being lead from her house.
"She wasn't in a good way. She had a cop on each side, not leaning, but they were pretty close to her."
The victim, who lived at the house with two young children, suffered facial injuries and a gash to her left arm, she said.
"Her face just looked like a mess but she may have had ice packs or bandages on there."
Other neighbours said they remembered hearing a vehicle flee from the house and didn't think much of it - until police arrived.
"It just sped off down the street," one said.
