Photo: RNZ / Richard Tindiller
Two people have been arrested after a 65-year-old man was injured in what police called a vicious attack in Te Aroha.
Police said the man was subjected to an unprovoked assault after a near-miss in his vehicle with two dirt bike riders coming from the Hauraki Rail Trail.
The assault on 20 September Ema Street caused the man serious injuries requiring a period of hospitalisation, police said.
Eastern Waikato Police carried out a search at a local address on Tuesday.
They arrested a 34-year-old man who appeared in the Hamilton District Court on Wednesday, charged with serious assault.
A younger male was referred to Youth Aid Services.
"This was an appalling and unprovoked attack of an elderly member of our community," Detective Sergeant Ben Norman said.
He thanked the Te Aroha community for their assistance.
He said police reminded anyone riding unregistered trail bikes that the rail trail was not a dirt bike trail. Riders should stick to dedicated dirt bike trail areas or they could potentially face enforcement action from police, he said.