A female police officer was knocked unconscious in south Auckland on Saturday night, as police struggled to contain disorder following the Tongan league side's downing of Lebanon.
Police arrested 11 people in Otahuhu after some fans got out of hand at around 1am. Ten arrests were for disorderly behaviour and one for possession of an offensive weapon. Police also referred a young teenager to Youth Aid for carrying a weapon.
The female police officer was knocked unconscious from behind by an unknown man and taken to hospital with head and arm injuries.
The main streets of Otahuhu were shut down until around 9pm to create a safe family zone, with the violence breaking out after they were reopened.
Inspector Rod Honan says police want to speak to witnesses.
"Someone knows exactly who committed this cowardly act, and we urge the offender, or anyone with information, to come forward.
"We know a number of people would have seen the offender. Police staff work tirelessly every day to keep our community safe and violent acts like this against our officers are unacceptable."
Chair of the Tongan Advisory Council Melino Maka says more than 90 percent of the fans in the family zone were well behaved.
"So far I'm really proud of the way our fans behaved."
He says thousands of people turned out for the safe celebrations in the family zone, despite the bad weather.
"It was a really memorable moment for us."
It's the first time the Rugby League team has made it through to the semi-finals.
"The reality is people are just so excited about the situation we are in with the Mate Ma'a Tonga team."
He says he left the family zone at around 10pm after the roads had reopened.
"Last night I saw one lady there in her 80s - young ones, old, middle-aged. You see they just come out of the woodwork and it's quite a humble feeling for us... it's our way of appreciating their achievement. "
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The crowd at the Tonga-Lebanon match in Christchurch was well-behaved, with police making no arrests.
The female police officer has been discharged from hospital.
Anyone with information can call the Counties-Manukau crime squad on (09) 261 1321 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Newshub.
