An off-duty police officer was fighting for his life last night, after he was attacked by a group of young people in Tuakau, south of Auckland.
The policeman was in Middlemore Hospital, Otahuhu, in a critical condition in an induced coma.
The attack happened about 4pm yesterday, after a fight broke out between two people in a group of youths in Elizabeth St, near Tuakau College.
When the officer and two civilians went to break up the fight, the policeman was hit from behind and kicked in the head and body.
Other Tuakau residents witnessed this attack and rushed to assist.
Police say the officer - believed to be in his 40s - was taken from the scene to his home, where he lost consciousness, then was taken to hospital.
Elizabeth St was cordoned off last night as police made door-to-door inquiries.
Counties Manukau district commander Superintendent Mike Bush last night vowed to find the attackers, believed to be school aged.
"Regardless of whether it was a police officer involved or a member of the community trying to keep the peace, it is unacceptable, the way they have been treated."
Police would ensure those responsible for the attack would be "made responsible for their actions".
Tuakau College principal Chris Betty said it was a school athletics days and most pupils had gone home when the fight happened, along the street from the college.
Some pupils had remained at school to wait for the bus.
"As I understand it, a non-college person started it and some of the other kids around . . . got involved.
"I don't know if any of our kids were involved.
"I suspect there are, but I don't know."
Mr Betty was called by a teacher living in the street and drove down the road with the deputy principal and another teacher.
He arrived about 3.45pm and saw the officer being helped back to his house by neighbours.
"He was a bit groggy and wasn't very well.
He'd been beaten."
The school would investigate on Monday whether its pupils were involved.
Some pupils saw the fight and were traumatised and would be offered counselling on Monday.
Police spokeswoman Ana-Mari Gates-Bowey said no arrests were made as those at the scene "fled pretty quickly".
One Tuakau resident, Willy Marshal, said young people were often fighting on the street, and last week two of his nephews who had been visiting him had been attacked there.
When Mr Marshal's brother stepped in to help the boys, he was sliced on the ear with a knife and had to go to Middlemore Hospital.
A youth in the street said: "This town is not that bad.
"I think they were third and fourth formers . . . just young."
