New Zealand's climate change minister was assaulted on the street while on his way to the Parliament.
Green Party co-leader James Shaw was punched in the face early on Thursday in Wellington, though was not seriously injured, reports the BBC.
"In New Zealand, you just don't expect these things to happen," it quoted Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern saying.
"We have an environment in New Zealand where politicians are accessible, and that's something we should feel proud of," Ardern told the media. "We are after all, here to serve people. But today's events really show we cannot take that for granted."
Police said a 47-year-old man was arrested and will be produced in court on Friday.
The BBC report cited a Green party spokesperson, who described the attack as unprovoked and said Shaw, who suffered a black eye, went to the hospital for a precautionary check-up.
It is still unclear if the attack on Shaw was politically motivated, but Trade Minister David Parker told the local media the attacker "was shouting things out about the United Nations", says the report.