Four people were hospitalised when liquor shop owners fought off a group of drunken teenagers who tried to storm their shop in south Auckland today.
Inspector Ian Brooker from the police northern communications centre said police were talking to a number of people after the fight, which took place in Franich St at about 5.30pm.
He said the store owner was hospitalised with a stab wound to his leg.
Witnesses said a youth entered the liquor shop and a fight started with a number of other youths who had followed him inside.
The fight then spilled out onto the street and it appears someone threw a fence paling which struck a woman from a shop next door.
People going to the woman's assistance became involved and received injuries, some possibly inflicted with a knife, some by blows, Mr Brooker said.
Gilbert Rd Discount Liquor owner Gagandeep Kaur told NZPA a group of four underaged teenagers were drunk and tried to get into the shop to get more alcohol.
She said her husband and nephew tried to get them out before they could cause trouble.
One of the teenagers was already in the shop and allegedly stabbed her husband, Vierender Singh, in the leg.
The family used hockey sticks kept in the shop to try and chase the teenagers out and managed to restrain one of them until police arrived, she said.
Mrs Kaur said the teenagers were probably too drunk to know what they were doing, and she did not think they were locals.
She said her husband called later from hospital to say he was fine.
"It was scary, when you see kids with knives walking in the street. It's never happened here before. We have been here three years and it's never happened like this." The shop was open for business shortly after.
Police were looking for further participants in the brawl.
Mr Brooker said there was initially no indication a robbery was intended.
"Due to the nature of the altercation and the number of participants and witnesses it will be some time before an accurate picture of events can be put together," he said.
