A policeman bashed from behind during a brawl in the south Auckland town of Tuakau has regained consciousness and is talking to medical staff.
The off-duty officer was taken to Middlemore Hospital in a critical condition yesterday after he was attacked when tried to break up a fight between a group of young people as he walked his dog.
He was put in an induced coma at the hospital but police said early last night he had regained some consciousness and was responding to medical staff.
The policeman was walking in Elizabeth St when the fight broke out. The officer, a local resident and another person approached the group to break up the fight but the policeman was hit from behind and kicked in the head and body.
He was taken back to his home where he lost consciousness and an ambulance was called and he was taken to hospital.
Police cordoned off the scene and spoke to witnesses.
One witness said he saw two or three young men walking up the road in "like little gangsters" in an intimidating manner minutes before the attack.
Counties Manukau District Commander Superintendent Mike Bush said police would find the attackers.
"Regardless of whether it was a police officer involved or a member of the community trying to keep the peace, it is unacceptable the way they have been treated," he told the New Zealand Herald today.
Tuakau College principal Chris Betty said yesterday was a school athletics days and most students had gone home by the time the fight happened.
He said he believed it was not a student who began the fight but some school students may have been involved.
Police said it was possible the youths had come out of the school and had "gathered for a scrap".
No one had been arrested.
More police were expected to join the inquiry today.
