Waikato Police are crediting the actions of some yet to be identified men who intervened during a violent domestic dispute that had seen two women suffer knife wounds this morning.
Detective Sergeant Martyn Hughes of the Thames/ Coromandel CIB said Police were called to a Paeroa address about 7.40am after reports of a domestic dispute.
"On arrival they found a 25-year-old man had been involved in a domestic dispute with his female partner who had fled to her aunt's house a short distance up the road.
"The woman was suffering bruises to her body and what appears to be defensive wounds to her hands caused by a knife, and a cut to her chin. The 53-year-old aunt tried to intervene and suffered a number of stab wounds to her neck."
Mr Hughes said a number of yet to be identified men intervened in the dispute preventing what Police believe could have potentially been more serious injuries being inflicted on the women.
"Armed Police responding to the calls for assistance arrived at the address a short time later and arrested the man, the younger woman was treated at a local medical centre for her injuries while her aunt was taken to Waikato Hospital by ambulance suffering from serious injuries."
Mr Hughes the tragic thing about this morning's incident is that it is not an uncommon event and the public need to send a message that domestic violence is not ok.
"On average one woman dies in this country every five weeks as a result of domestic violence inflicted by their current spouse, partner or ex-partner and about 10 children die in such incidents every year.
"Domestic violence is a plague affecting all sectors of society and Police would urge anyone feeling stressed or who is subjected to domestic violence to seek help before things deteriorate, no one wants to see a repeat of today's incident."
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