A "party gone wrong" ended with a 20-year-old man being stabbed with a broken beer bottle at the weekend, in yet another case of alcohol-fuelled violence in Nelson.

Nelson Bays area commander Inspector Steve Greally today warned that police would ramp up their policing of alcohol consumption over summer.

He said the bottle stabbing at Atawhai on Saturday night happened at "a party gone wrong" and was an example of alcohol-driven crime.

"It's a nasty business. I'm glad nobody died."

Police were called just before 8pm on Saturday to Ngapua Place, following several reports of fighting. Detective Senior Sergeant Wayne McCoy said a number of people were outside the property, and the victim had serious lower back injuries. He underwent surgery yesterday.

St John Ambulance staff waited until police arrived, out of fears for their safety, before taking the man to Nelson Hospital.

A 31-year-old man has been charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, and was to appear in the Nelson District Court. Two others were arrested and charged with obstruction.

Just before the Atawhai attack, another man was attacked in Vanguard St, Nelson.

St John Ambulance team manager Jon Leach said the 43-year-old man was assaulted by two or three others. He had bruising and cuts to his face and body, and was taken to Nelson Hospital's emergency department.

Mr Greally last week spoke out about violence in Nelson following five serious assaults involving knives, and two other serious assaults. He gave a strong message to "thugs" that they would be arrested and face lengthy jail terms.

Mr McCoy said the spike in stabbing attacks this month was unusual. "It appears alcohol is a factor in nearly every incident."

Last weekend a 28-year-old man was stabbed numerous times near the back of a Rutherford St service station. A 19-year-old man has been arrested. Mr Greally said the stabbing was over a sausage roll. The victim had bought a sausage roll but forgot to pick it up, and another man decided to take it.

On October 12, Nelson man Mark Wells had his throat slit with a knife in his Washington Valley flat. A man has been charged with attempted murder.

On October 9, a 31-year-old Motueka man was flown to Wellington Hospital with head injuries after a serious assault at a Motueka house.

Last week police were also investigating another stabbing, at a North Rd house in the Wood, after a 27-year-old Nelson man went to Nelson Hospital with cuts to his face, right hand and knee. Inquiries are continuing.

Last weekend, a Stoke man was stabbed outside a house. Both the attacker and the victim have been arrested.

A stabbing involving two women earlier this year was also reported last week.

Other serious assaults have included a young man who suffered severe facial injuries at a rave this month at the Wairoa Gorge, near Brightwater. He was flown to Wellington Hospital.

After searches in Nelson, police caught Daniel Waka Minogue in Blenheim. He was wanted following a violent home invasion at Canvastown and a separate assault on his former partner. He appeared in the Nelson District Court and was remanded in custody until November 13.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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