A man has been taken to hospital in a serious condition after emergency services were called to a Waltham property.

A police spokesman said officers were called to an Opawa Road address at about 11.50am following reports of an assault.

“One person is being treated by ambulance staff, and police are making enquiries into the circumstances,” the spokesman said.

A friend of the victim told chrislynchmedia.com the man was allegedly assaulted elsewhere, before arriving at the Waltham address injured.

He said a baseball bat was involved in the attack.

A St John spokesman said ambulance crews responded with one ambulance and two rapid response vehicles.

One patient was assessed at the scene and taken to Christchurch Hospital in a serious condition.

Chris Lynch Media observed two police officers leaving the address carrying a large plastic bag containing items of clothing.

Further details will be published as they become available.