A stag party spiralled out of control in Queenstown on Saturday night, police said.
Sergeant Steve Watt, of Queenstown, said a 27-year-old Christchurch man, the groom, was facing three charges of assault with a weapon, common assault and threatening to kill.
On Saturday, the groom's party of five arrived in Queenstown and visited about seven bars, returning to their motel room early the next morning, where the groom became increasingly paranoid, Sgt Watt said.
He continued to drink and thought his friends "were going to do something to him", Sgt Watt said.
The man allegedly hit his best man in the head, then turned on the rest of the group.
"He proceeded to punch another male in the chest and stomach area six or seven times before picking up a bread and butter knife and threatening to kill them all," Sgt Watt said.
He ran away about 5am and was arrested by police when he returned to the motel at 7am.
He will appear in the Queenstown District Court on July 16.
