Attacks on schoolchildren condemned

A headmaster says a spate of violent attacks on schoolchildren is sickening and has urged pupils to help fellow students in distress.

The attacks appear to be unprovoked and Whangarei Boys' High School (WBHS) principal Al Kirk said he was appalled students were being targeted by "thugs".

"It's sickening this is happening and sickening it's happening almost at will...it's abhorrent and it's disgusting to all right-thinking people," Mr Kirk said.

In the past two weeks, there have been four attacks on Whangarei children after school.

The latest was on Friday when two masked teenagers attacked and robbed two 12-year-old schoolgirls in suburban Kamo about 4.15pm.
In other attacks, on March 10 two WBHS pupils were punched in one incident and a Whangarei Intermediate School pupil was attacked in another. A WBHS pupil was also punched by a man on March 2.

Mr Kirk urged students to help their fellow pupils in distress if they could do so without endangering themselves.

"I don't want them to get involved in a stoush...but if it's possible to break it up, step in and help, but don't get involved and exacerbate it," he said.

Witnesses to the attacks needed to speak out.

Kamo Intermediate principal John Smith said his two 12-year-old female students had put up a fierce fight against their two attackers on Friday about 4.15pm.

The attackers were believed to be Maori females aged 17 or 18. They wore T-shirts over half of their faces with cut-out eye holes, and red and black hoods respectively over their heads.

Mr Smith said the two girls had been walking along Station Rd, Kamo, when the teenagers came out of Charles St.

The pair had their jewellery ripped off and the attackers also tried to take clothing and shoes.

"The girls did receive a couple of hits on the body and face," Mr Smith said.

However, the girls were in good spirits yesterday.

Mr Smith had told pupils to walk home with friends and keep alert, especially in the Charles St/Station Rd area.

Whangarei Police Sergeant Anaru Roberts said police were in the process of investigating the incidents.

A school campus policeman would be briefed about the incidents and Victim Support was available for the pupils if required.

- NORTHERN ADVOCATE (WHANGAREI)