Three hospitalised after attacker enters series of Auckland restaurants

Three people were injured when customers were attacked in restaurants in Auckland with weapons including an axe, witnesses say.

A police spokesperson said the attacks happened in restaurants on Corinthian Drive in Albany at about 9pm on Monday.

A man was arrested at the scene and charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. Police said further charges were likely.

Police shift commander Eugene Pickett said some of the restaurant patrons tried to confront the attacker.

A witness told RNZ her friend was attacked in front of her.

They were at Maya Hotpot when a man walked in with something wrapped in cloth, which he unwrapped, and she saw he had an axe, a pole and another item.

"I was facing the door, while my friends had their backs to it," she said.

She said he came at her friend from behind with the axe.

She was in shock and unable to move for some moments, she said, but shortly after people were standing up and someone shouted "what are you going to do, why are you doing it", before her friend was hit again.

The man was very "calm, patient, slow" as he entered the restaurant, she said.

Her injured friend was taken to hospital.

Waitematā East area commander Inspector Stefan Sagar said police had no evidence to suggest this was a racially-motivated attack.

"We acknowledge how frightening this incident was for those involved, and for the wider community, and we are ensuring there is support in place for both the victims and their friends and family.

"The man charged over this matter, who is a Chinese national, is appearing in the North Shore District Court today and we are not seeking anyone else in relation to this incident."

Two people remained in hospital, one in North Shore Hospital in a moderate and stable condition, the other in Auckland City Hospital in a stable condition.

Two others were discharged from North Shore Hospital after having been admitted with minor conditions.

A ramen chef working at a nearby restaurant said the attack left the area "like a war zone". "I saw a young person, around their 20s, with blood on their head. They stood for a moment and then collapsed to the ground."

A reporter at the scene said at least four police cars attended on Monday night, and one of the officers had told her to keep well away from the shops as there was a lot of blood in the area.

Three restaurants were cordoned off. Spilled soup across a table was visible in one of the premises and items could be seen on the floor.

The cordoned restaurants include Zhang Liang Malatang, Yue's Dumpling Kitchen, and Maya Hotpot.

A chef described ducking as a man swung an axe at him when he was outside his restaurant.

He said he was putting rubbish out after the evening dinner service when he was attacked, and ran to the nearby Spicy Hot Pot restaurant.

"When I looked back again, there was someone holding their head and bleeding."