Police have arrested a 16-year-old after a samurai sword attack all but severed a man's hand outside a Palmerston North party on Saturday night.
Detective Senior Sergeant Craig Sheridan says the teenager, from Bunnythorpe near Feilding, was arrested on Monday and charged with wounding with intent to cause grevious bodily harm.
He appeared at a special sitting in Palmerston North District Court on Tuesday morning.
Mr Sheridan says the 20-year-old victim had surgery to re-attach the hand on Monday but it is likely to be several days before doctors know whether it has been successfully re-attached.
He says the samurai sword used in the attack was found at a local address and is approximately one metre in length.
Police have spoken to 20 witnesses and will continue to interview them this week.
