Police say three people who suffered serious injuries, and another who is now before the courts, from Friday’s incident in Takanini knew each other.

Officers originally said three people had serious injuries after what they believed was an “altercation involving neighbours” in a South Auckland street last night.

Police said they were called to Kutukutu St in Takanini at 7.50pm.

Three people were taken to hospital with serious injuries, police told the Herald.

In a statement issued early Saturday afternoon, police said a 34-year-old man had since been arrested and charged with three counts of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

Police are investigating after three people were stabbed on Kutukutu Street in Takanini last night. Photo / Hayden Woodward

“Cordons are in place on Kutukutu Street and residents are asked to follow the instructions of police staff in the area,” a police spokesperson said.

A neighbour told the Herald they heard screaming when they arrived home from work last night.

“I saw a man with a knife . . . ,” he said.

“My brother and I went to the scene and found three people who had been stabbed.

“It was a very bad scene: three were stabbed, the guy had multiple stab wounds over his arms, legs, and under the chest, and [a woman] was stabbed really badly in the stomach.

The scene on Kutukutu Street in Takanini last night. Photo / Hayden Woodward

“It’s shocking there was so much blood; this is not something you usually see or expect in New Zealand.

“They were just over there, on the ground outside the neighbour’s house; all the houses are so close here.”

A Hato Hone St John spokesperson said they responded to an incident in Takanini at 7.45pm.

They said two people in critical condition and one in serious condition were taken to various hospitals.

Nearby business owner Kamal Singh claimed three people were stabbed and had small children with them, but he did not know how the incident started.

“I saw one small kid sitting in an ambulance with them, they were crying,” Singh told the Herald. He described a helicopter at the scene, as well as “so many” police cars and ambulances.

Hato Hone St John told the Herald it sent three ambulances, three rapid response units and an operations manager.