UPDATED:

A 24-year-old man has been arrested in relation to the assault of an on-duty police officer in Owhata, Rotorua.

Yesterday the police officer was called out to a residential property in Owhata and the offender struck him on the head by an unknown object.

The man is due to appear in Rotorua District Court tomorrow on a charge of attempted murder.

'No officer should go to work and be faced with this sort of violence," says Bay of Plenty District commander superintendent Andy McGregor.

"This was a gutless attack on one of our officers and we are relieved to make an arrest and hold this man to account."

The injured police officer remains in hospital in a stable condition.

'We are continuing to support the injured officer who is making good progress.”

As the matter is before the court, police will not be making further comment on the incident.

EARLIER:

A Bay of Plenty police officer is in Waikato Hospital with serious head injuries after being assaulted while on duty in Rotorua last night.

At about midnight he and another officer responded to an emergency call from a residential property in Owhata.

'The Constable was in the process of arresting a male for an alleged assault of a female, when a second offender jumped a fence and struck him on the side of the head with an unknown object,” says Bay of Plenty District Commander, Superintendent Andy McGregor.

'He was knocked unconscious and the offender took off on foot.”

The officer was taken to Rotorua Hospital, then transferred to Waikato where he is currently sedated and in a stable condition.

'Police work tirelessly to keep our communities safe and acts of violence like this against our officers are unacceptable.

'Police takes the safety of its staff seriously and will continue to investigate this attack to hold those responsible to account.

'We are continuing to offer support to the officer and his family at this time.”