Detectives are hunting a group who attacked two brothers in Porirua at the weekend, leaving one of them on a life support machine.
Officers are tonight carrying out a detailed search of the scene near shops on Mungavin Avenue, with the help of 20 recruits from the nearby Police College.
The police said the two men, aged 34 and 47, were returning from a Christmas party early on Sunday morning when they were set upon.
Despite attempts to run away, they were chased and knocked to the ground.
While the younger brother was later released from hospital, the older one has had surgery to remove a clot on his brain and remains in a serious condition.
