A 15-year-old boy faces a charge of wounding with intent, after a 17-year-old was left with a fractured skull and bleeding on the brain after a fight in Rotorua.
Police say the victim's friends were at McDonalds on Fairy Springs Road on Sunday afternoon, when two cars pulled into the car park.
An occupant from each of the cars verbally abused the youth before one punched him twice, then kicked him as he lay on the ground.
In a separate incident, a 23-year-old Murupara man was admitted to hospital with head injuries.
Police say alcohol played a role in the two incidents and both are being treated as potential homicide enquiries.
