A 5-year-old boy is being treated in Hutt Hospital for a serious facial injury after being bitten by an unregistered American Pitbull terrier cross.
The boy was flown to Wellington this morning after being airlifted by a rescue helicopter from Wairoa Hospital to Napier Airport at 2am.
Hutt Hospital said the child was in a stable condition.
The Wairoa District Council said the dog had been impounded and an investigation was underway.