27 Jun 2021

Man arrested for 'coward' punch on Auckland police officer

2:35 pm on 27 June 2021

A 31-year-old man has been arrested after assaulting a police officer on Auckland's Karangahape Road overnight.

Auckland, New Zealand -January 04, 2019: People at Karangahape (K) Road on a sunny day over Auckland, New Zealand.

The officer was assaulted while responding to fighting on Auckland's central Karangahape Road. (File photo). Photo: 123RF

Police said officers were dealing with a group fighting at about 3:30am, when a person who was not involved in the initial incident come up to the officer and hit them from behind.

Other bystanders and security guards intervened to help the officer and catch the man who had hit them.

The police officer was hospitalised suffering a serious concussion and is in a stable condition.

"The behaviour displayed by this man is unacceptable," police said in a statement.

He is to appear in the Auckland District Court on Monday.