Four men have been arrested after a 60-strong brawl in Tokoroa in which a teenage boy was seriously injured.
Fighting started just after 9pm yesterday and it took police four hours to disperse the crowd.
An 18-year-old boy was found unconscious on the road and taken to Tokoroa Hospital in a serious condition, then transferred to Waikato Hospital, where he was stable today.
Sergeant Sam Parata, of Tokoroa, said the fighting, which involved people throwing bottles and cans, started after a party in Kelso St.
He believed gatecrashers sparked the fight, but did not think it was gang-related.
Some of the men arrested were to appear in court on disorderly and fighting charges; others would be issued with warnings.
Two ambulances were called to scene, along with three or four police cars. Police said the street was cleared about 10.30pm.
A woman who lived on a nearby street said there were often large disturbances in the area on the weekends, with parties getting out of control from time to time.
