A couple of smashed up cars and a small police presence on a Mt Albert street are the only signs of the fight that ended with an Auckland man being shot with a nail gun early this morning.

One man has been arrested in relation to the altercation, while another was taken to hospital in a critical condition before being taken to surgery.

Police said the events unfolded shortly after 3am on Hendon Avenue.

Outside the house believed to be at the centre of the investigation is a blue BMW sedan with smashed windows and a dirty cloth covering it.

Just on the road is sitting a Paradise takeaways car that's also got its front and side windows smashed.

A young girl, who was walking with her grand-mother on the road told the Herald they were awoken by an old man.

She said outside their house, which was about four houses down from where it's believed the incident unfolded, she could hear someone say "shoot".

"The old man asked us to call police," she said.
"I heard this man telling someone to shoot.

"The old man said they were drinking and then someone got a wood and was smacking him."

The young girl thought there might have been two younger men fighting outside - but she wasn't sure.

She said she hadn't seen anything as they'd waited inside with the older man until the police came.