A Horowhenua man is in a critical condition in Wellington Hospital after he was punched in a fight outside a bar in Levin on Saturday.
Police said the 24-year-old got involved in a fight that was originally between two people outside the Molotov pub as it closed.
Detective Darcy Parke said about fifty people were outside the premises at the time and that police were appealing for any witnesses to the fight.
Mr Parke said the injured man had to undergo surgery to relieve pressure on his brain.
He called on people not to put themselves in the middle of violent altercations, as they end up being collateral damage.
"All I can say is that there's far too many occurrences of the one-punch rendering unconscious scenarios in New Zealand and it is normally alcohol-related," he said.
"People need to mind their own business and not get involved in altercations involving other people, even if they are friends."
