A teenager who was celebrating his girlfriend's birthday at a party in Kawhia, near Hamilton, is in hospital after a vehicle hit him and then allegedly drove off without stopping

Residents heard a car screeching down the road followed by people yelling and screaming at about 1 this morning.

A witness was among about 50 teenagers at the Rosamond Terrace party and says there had been a lot of drinking.

They say a car came "hooning" up the road into a fight that had broken out in the middle of the street and hit the victim, who is now in a serous but stable condition. Police are speaking to one person, but no charges have been laid.