Police in Masterton are trying to defuse gang tensions after an attack left a man in intensive care in Wellington Hospital with serious head injuries.
A Molotov cocktail attack followed the bashing.
Police suspect the arson attack at the Hessey Street flat on Sunday afternoon was related to an incident in which a 37-year-old man was assaulted and left unconscious on the driveway of a house in the same street on Saturday.
Wairarapa CIB Detective Senior Sergeant Sean Hansen says “fortunately no one was home at the time and the Molotov cocktail did not catch fire”.
Last night police said they still wanted help investigating the attacks and were interested in the movements of a blue Holden Berlina, registration OE5555.
3 News and RadioLive