A man is in hospital with serious injuries following an unprovoked attack in Rotorua yesterday.

The 19-year-old local man was with a friend in a cream-coloured vehicle in the parking area outside the Pleasant Heights shops on Thomas Crescent about 2pm when a man approached the vehicle.

He assaulted the victim in what appears at this stage to be an unprovoked attack.

Police say the victim sought refuge at a nearby address but the offender followed him and the assault continued at the rear of that address.

'The victim is currently in Rotorua Hospital with serious internal injuries. The victim's friend was also assaulted to a lesser extent,” says a statement from police.

'Friends and family of the 19-year-old man took him to hospital and the police were notified.”

Due to the victim's medical condition police are yet to interview him in detail, but initial enquiries suggest that the two men who were assaulted did not know their attacker.

'Police are following some positive lines of enquiry in regard to the identity of the offender. In the meantime police want to hear from anyone in the Thomas Crescent area yesterday afternoon who may have seen, or have information about this assault.

'The offender is believed to be male, Maori, in his 30s, and possibly had a vehicle also parked at that location. The two victims were Caucasian; the seriously injured man was small in stature and his friend was tall.”

Police are asking for people who saw the incident involving the men described or have any other information that might assist please contact Rotorua Police on 07 348 0099. Information can also be provided anonymously to the organisation Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.