A McDonald's owner is concerned for her staff's safety after a manager was punched in the back of the head twice trying to stop a fight outside.
McDonald's Rotorua franchisee Linley Parry told the NZ Herald a man and a woman were yelling at and pushing each other in the restaurant's drive-thru on Thursday morning.
Parry said the manager went out and asked them to leave but when she was talking to the woman the man came up behind her and punched the back of her head twice.
The manager suffered a headache and a sore jaw, the Herald reported.
A police spokesperson told Newshub a man was taken into custody after "disorder" at the restaurant on Fenton St shortly before 7:40am Thursday.
Police said the investigation is ongoing and "charges are being considered".
Parry is worried about the safety of her staff as fights regularly break out between "beggars" outside the business. She told the Herald the business had been speaking with the police, the council, Safe City Guardians and others for months about problems with "little to no impact".
"Unfortunately, our staff are dealing with this on a daily basis… they're getting more frustrated about [in our view] no response, no changes and no outcomes," Parry said.
"My staff have human rights as well and they should be able to be at work and operate in a safe environment."
