Police are looking for a 19-year-old in relation to a machete attack in Hamilton last month in which a dairy worker lost two fingers.
Following the incident on December 17, Trayd Tahau has been charged with aggravated robbery, wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, aggravated assault, assault with intent to rob, and unlawfully getting into a vehicle.
A warrant to arrest was issued at the Hamilton District Court yesterday.
The victim has now undergone surgery to reattach one of two severed fingers. (Source: 1News)
At the time of the incident, owner Puneet Singh told 1News he and one of his employees had just opened the Irvine Street Dairy, in Frankton, when four men – one armed with the machete – entered the store around 7.20am.
The worker ran towards the back room after seeing the group but "the guy with the machete chased him and attacked him", he said.
"His finger was on the floor when I came here and then I saw him, he was totally fainted and passing out and not able to talk and walk."
A neighbour who ran over to help after hearing his screams was punched in the face, and the dairy worker who lost his fingers later had them reattached in an eight-hour surgery at Waikato Hospital, Singh said.
Gagandeep Maan had to scrub his co-worker's blood from the floor following the assault, and said he no longer felt safe at work.
Detective Senior Sergeant Andrew Saunders warned that Tahau should not be approached.
"We believe he may still be in the Waikato area and is actively evading police. We want to hear from anyone with information on his whereabouts," he said.
"We consider Trayd to be dangerous and need anyone with information to contact us immediately."
Anyone with information is asked to call 111.
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