A 44-year-old man was arrested after allegedly holding a knife to a woman's throat in front of her 12-year-old child on Saturday night.
Acting Senior Sergeant Nathan White said the 27-year-old woman was cut on her neck and needed stitches as a result of the incident, which happened in Green Island about 11.30pm.
After being involved in an argument with the woman, the 44-year-old man allegedly held a knife to her throat and threatened to kill her.
While he was allegedly holding her down, the woman's 12-year-old child arrived, causing the man to leave the scene, Acting Snr Sgt White said.
The incident was concerning, he said.
''Any incident of family violence is concerning, but much more so when somebody's taken a weapon - a knife in this case - and injured the other party. Huge potential to go wrong.''
The child was being offered appropriate support and was being looked after by family members, he said.
''It's very unfortunate for the 12-year-old. It's a horrible thing for any child to see,'' Acting Snr Sgt White said.
Detective Sergeant Chris Henderson said a man had been arrested yesterday afternoon and would appear in Dunedin District Court today charged with assault.
Additional reporting APNZ.
