The main street contretemps was the talk of the town as police sectioned-off the area with crime tape and called in detectives to investigate.

The 37-year-old man was taken to Tennant Creek Hospital by ambulance and later medivacced to Alice Springs for surgery.

His 34-year-old wife was appeared in the Tennant Creek Magistrates Court yesterday charged with aggravated assault causing serious harm and using a controlled weapon in a public place.

The incident occurred on Paterson Street, near Ford Bros. shortly before the pubs opened at midday.