Four arrests have been made following a "brutal assault" on a 61-year-old in Gisborne last month.
Police said the man was assaulted after a group of men showed up at his Riverdale house at 9.30pm on 19 November, demanding alcohol.
The "incredibly appalling level of violence" inflicted in front of the man's wife left her traumatised, detective senior sergeant Mark Moorhouse said in a statement.
"The victim is still in hospital in a stable condition and slowly improving each day," Moorhouse said.
The four accused are aged between 20 and 28, and have been charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, and burglary.
Two have already appeared in Gisborne District Court. Another will appear this week and the fourth in early January.
"Thank you to those who came forward with information that helped in our investigation and location of these men," Moorhouse said.