Three men were taken to hospital, one with a puncture wound, in what police said appears to have been a retaliation attack following an altercation between two groups in Dunedin on Saturday night.
Sergeant Chris McLellan said two 21-year-old men were in a stable but serious condition, after they were taken to Dunedin Hospital.
One had injuries to his face and head, while the other had a cut head and an "unexplained puncture wound" to his stomach area.
A third 22-year-old man was treated for a cut hand.
During the night police had been called to a series of conflicts between the two groups on South Rd, from about 12.30am, and tried to cool the "simmering tensions" between them.
The two men were taken to hospital just after 2am following an incident which police said appeared to have been a retaliation attack.
Two 60cm-long pieces of wood, one of which had a screw in the end of it, and a hammer had been seized from the address.
The items were consistent with the weapons possibly used in the assault, Sgt McLellan said.
Alcohol appeared to have been a factor, but the conflict was not believed to be gang-related.
