An ambulance was called at 8.45pm to Magdala St, Tainui following reports a 38-year-old woman had been stabbed in the head, torso and leg.
Dunedin police were last night looking for a barefooted man, believed to be her former partner.
Police were notified and the woman was taken to hospital, but was not in a life-threatening condition, Senior Sergeant Steve Aitken said.
A police officer had been posted to the hospital as a precaution, he said.
He confirmed a knife had been recovered from the scene, and police were looking for a 24-year-old man.
A police dog unit followed a trail from the house to a nearby intersection, where it is believed the man may have left by car.
"We don't believe other people are at risk," Snr Sgt Aitken said.
