Three Young Men Wounded After Late-Night Street Brawl Erupts In Central Wellington, Police Arrest Suspects

Wellington, New Zealand— Police cordoned off Cuba Street and part of Courtenay Place just after midnight Friday after a street brawl left three young men on the pavement bleeding. Officers said the fight started outside a bar and spilled into the road, drawing a crowd of more than 30 people. Three victims were taken to hospital with stab and blunt force wounds.

The call came at 12:14 a.m. Two patrol units arrived to find chaos. Bottles smashed on the road. One man was unconscious near a taxi rank. Two others were sitting against a shop front holding bloodied shirts to their faces. Police pushed onlookers back and called for additional backup and ambulances.

Witnesses said the argument began inside a nearby bar over a spilled drink. It moved outside. Then more people joined. "It went from shouting to punching in seconds, then someone pulled something sharp," a door staff member said. He said his team tried to separate the groups but were outnumbered. Police have not confirmed what weapons were used.

St John said one man, aged 22, had serious stab wounds to his abdomen and was rushed to Wellington Hospital for surgery. The other two, aged 19 and 21, had head lacerations and a broken jaw. All three are in stable condition. Officers collected CCTV from three bars and a kebab shop that captured the build-up.

Police arrested two men at the scene, aged 24 and 26, and are searching for a third who fled toward Taranaki Street. A knife was recovered from a drain. Forensic teams photographed blood trails stretching 40 meters along the footpath. Liquor licensing officers were brought in to review the bar's security footage.

"We had a volatile mix of alcohol and a large crowd, it escalated fast," a Wellington central police sergeant said. He said officers used pepper spray to break up the crowd when some bystanders refused to move. The area remained sealed until 4 a.m. while detectives interviewed witnesses and bar staff.

Locals said the strip has seen more late-night violence since last summer. The Wellington City Council said it has added extra CCTV and security patrols on weekends but Friday's staffing was thin. Bar owners in the area will meet next week to discuss earlier closing and better ID checks.

Police are asking anyone who filmed the fight to come forward. The investigation remains open, with charges expected to include wounding with intent and disorderly behavior.