Senior Sergeant Alastair Dickie spoke to Stuff at the time of the attack, detailing what had happened. Video first published in 2017.

A man's hand was left "just" hanging on after a machete attack at a home near Dunedin, police say.

Senior Sergeant Alastair Dickie said police responded to reports a man's hand had been cut off by a machete.

A man was arrested outside the house after being confronted by police dogs and officers.

HAMISH MCNEILLY / FAIRFAX NZ The scene at Taieri Beach Rd south of Dunedin where a man has been arrested following an alleged attack on another man with a machete.

"He wasn't going to argue with that."



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"Things got a bit heated and went from bad to worse," Dickie, who is set to retire, told media outside the scene.

Asked if the hand was still attached he replied, "just".

HAMISH MCNEILLY/STUFF A man is detained by police following an alleged machete attack near Dunedin.

"It is a fairly serious injury."

A woman was in the house at the time of the incident.

Police had been unable to locate the weapon as yet, he said.

HAMISH MCNEILLY / FAIRFAX NZ People at the Taieri Beach Rd south of Dunedin where a man was arrested following an alleged machete attack.

Family members could be seen seen visibly upset outside the address following the incident in Taieri Beach Rd about midday on Tuesday.

No charges had been laid yet.

Dickie said the injured man had been transported to Dunedin Hospital.

HAMISH MCNEILLY / FAIRFAX NZ A man is detained by police following an alleged machete attack near Dunedin.

A St John spokesman said an ambulance and a rescue helicopter were dispatched to the scene at 11.59am.

The patient was transported by ambulance to a nearby location and then flown to hospital with serious injuries, he said.

HAMISH MCNEILLY/STUFF Police help transfer a patient at Taieri Beach Rd south of Dunedin where a man was arrested following an alleged attack on another man with a machete.

Earlier a witness reported police cars "screaming" towards Taieri Beach.

A police cordon is in place around the property.

HAMISH MCNEILLY / FAIRFAX NZ An ambulance officer at Taieri Beach Rd south of Dunedin where an alleged machete attack took place.