A staff member of the Taste of India restaurant in Miramar, Wellington, has been left with serious injuries following an aggravated robbery.
Police are investigating the incident, which occurred shortly before midnight on Friday.
The offender entered the Devonshire Rd restaurant, assaulted the staff member, then stole cash from the till and fled.
Naveet Sharma, who works at the restaurant, said it was his uncle, aged in his 70s, who was injured and taken to hospital with a fractured skull.
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My uncle was just mopping the floor when two people came from the back of the restaurant. One had a tyre iron and smacked him in the back of the head twice. The other one took the till, Sharma said.
The offenders were wearing masks and the incident was caught on CCTV.
Sharma said his uncle underwent surgery for the fractured skull, but seemed to be okay on Sunday.
Police said they were taking the matter seriously and were following a number of lines of inquiry.
They want anyone who can help with enquiries to call police on 105.
Information can be provided anonymously on 0800555111.