A Dunedin man has been charged with intention to kill and possession of an offensive weapon, after police were called to an Abbotsford address shortly before midnight.

The man was allegedly yelling abuse at his partner, and threatened to use a butchers knife to kill a concerned neighbour who went to assist the woman.

Senior Sergeant Brian Benn says several calls alerted police to the incident, and the man was also abusive to police at the scene and kicked the door of a police car.