Christchurch-born TVNZ correspondent Jack Tame says he was attacked in the street by the person he was trying to help.

One News correspondent Jack Tame has been attacked by the woman he was trying to protect in New York.

TVNZ.co.nz reports the journalist had left his apartment in Harlem when he saw a couple fighting.

"They were swearing and yelling at each other when suddenly the man hit the woman really hard in the side of the head," Tame says.

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"She screamed and swung back at him. I walked over to say something, when the woman turned and swung at me. She clipped me in the ear, I turned away and she punched me between my shoulders.

"I was fine, just a bit confronted and alarmed. It's awful to see people treating each other like that."

The incident, which happened at about 9am New Zealand time, left Tame shocked.

"They kept screaming and yelling at each other, and at me, then rushed off in opposite directions."

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