An 18-year-old woman has been rushed to hospital in a critical condition after a stabbing in Auckland's CBD.

The incident happened outside a Wilson carpark building on Anzac Ave on Thursday afternoon and a handbag, clothes and a water bottle could be seen lying on the ground.

An 18-year-old man has been taken into police custody and is assisting with inquiries.

ALDEN WILLIAMS/STUFF Police are attending astabbing on Anzac Avenue, Auckland City.

Detective Senior Sergeant Scott Armstrong said the attack was not random, as was previously stated by a witness, and the two people involved were known to each other.

"Police were on the scene quickly and there is no ongoing risk to the public."

A local business owner said there were often problems on the street outside the Oceanic Student hostel.

A witness, who asked only to be identified by his first name, Daniel, said he chased the attacker down the street.

"I was in my car about to leave and I heard a shout or a sound and I saw some interaction between a young woman and a young man I turned around and saw a man stab her with a 30 cm long knife.

"I jumped out of my car and ran across the street to intervene, and yelled at him to stop that. He looked at me and took off - I chased him and told the security guard by the car park to look after the girl. I chased after him for quite some time but I eventually lost him."

During that time a crowd of passersby had stopped to help the girl, Daniel said, using clothing to try and stop the bleeding.

"I saw that she had lesions on her upper torso, she had obviously been stabbed in the side of her torso, some stab wounds on the arm - so it was reasonably serious.

"She was breathing and still conscious so I guess that's a good sign."

ALDEN WILLIAMS/STUFF Emergency services are currently on scene.

Another man said people on the street sprang into action after the attack, some chasing the man and others aiding the woman.

"One of the guys had jumped back into his truck to chase the guy then a couple of Customs employees came across the road with first aid kits, one was a nurse and a doctor I think they said," he said.



"I noticed this woman behind and she was freaking out, I think she said she had a video of the guy running away."

​Police had a section of the road, near Short St, cordoned off just after 3pm.

Onlookers watched on from behind police tape as police interviewed bystanders

The stabbing comes after two men were stabbed, one slashed across the face, after an incident outside a Ponsonby bar early Sunday morning.

Shortly after 5pm a spokeswoman from Auckland City Hospital confirmed the woman was still in a critical condition.

Police remained at the scene on Thursday evening to complete an examination.

Armstrong thanked the public for their assistance and urged anyone with information to contact the Operation Pompano investigation team on 09 3026557.

Police confirmed the victim's family had been notified and were being supported by Police and Victim Support.

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