Auckland Police are pursuing eight men involved in an attack on two victims in the early hours of Saturday morning on Queen Street.
The group of offenders violently attacked the two victims at approximately 2:30am on Saturday near the Mecca Maxima store, Auckland Police said in a statement on Tuesday.
"We know our community will be absolutely shocked by this crime - two innocent members of our community simply having a night out when they were attacked," said Detective Constable Tom Malcolm of the Auckland City CIB.
The assault was captured on CCTV, he said, but the police have decided not to release the video because of the "very graphic" content.
The victims were taken to Auckland Hospital where they are still recovering from their injuries, the police said. One of the victims was assessed as being in a critical condition but he is said to be improving.
Auckland Police are asking members of the community to come forward with any information about the incident in order to "identify these offenders and hold them to account as soon as possible."
Contact Detective Constable Tom Malcolm on (09) 213 8683 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Newshub.
