Police are investigation a stabbing following an attempted home invasion in the Hamilton area this morning, and are asking for help from the public.

A 31-year-old man, who was home alone at the time of the incident, suffered abdomen and arm injuries in the attack.

Detective Sergeant Ricky Thompson says emergency services were called to a Saxbys Road address around 1.30am.

'Initial indications on what has occurred are that our victim had been having a smoke out the back of his house when he has heard a disturbance out the front.

'Our victim has gone to investigate the noise and come around the corner to find a man attempting to force entry into the front door of his home.”

Ricky says when the victim confronted the stranger, the offender has slashed his arm with a weapon which was believed to be a knife and stabbed the man in the abdomen before fleeing.

'He suffered serious but non-life threatening injuries and was taken to Waikato Hospital by ambulance for treatment.

'A scene examination was completed today and we are working to establish the identity of the offender responsible for this attack which is unusual in its degree of seriousness.”

The offender was described as a Maori or Polynesian male about 165cm tall, of skinny build aged in his late teens or early twenties.

'From a policing perspective, we are viewing this incident as very serious and we would ask that anyone who saw anything suspicious in the area of Saxbys Road at the time of the attack to contact Hamilton Police.

'At the same time I would like to urge people not to confront offenders, if at all possible place yourself at a safe distance from any potential attacker to allow you to be able to raise the alarm by ringing 111.”

People with information about the incident are asked to contact the Hamilton Police Station on 07 858 6200.

Alternatively information can be left anonymously with Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.