Bay of Plenty police investigating a brutal hammer attack, which left a Tauranga man fighting for his life, are focusing their investigation on a Nissan Maxima.
The 31-year-old man regained consciousness today after he was assaulted by a man with a claw hammer in Mt Maunganui yesterday.
Senior Sergeant Rob Glencross, of Tauranga CIB, said police were looking for a 1991 Nissan Maxima sedan, registration number UE1805.
The car was described as being either blue or dark coloured with lowered suspension and chromed mag wheels.
The injured man, from beachside suburb Papamoa, was due to be transferred to a general ward at Waikato Hospital this afternoon.
He was flown to the hospital by helicopter for emergency surgery to relieve pressure on his brain.
Mr Glencross said a "sizeable police team" were continuing to investigate the assault.
They were "following strong lines of inquiry".
Police initially said the man's survival was "touch and go" after the attack.
Mr Glencross appealed for information from anyone who knew what had happened or saw the attack shortly before 6pm.
