Boy 'left with tyre marks' after being chased down

Critically injured Tokoroa boy Seth Tera with his nieces, Xianthea Tera, 4, left and Braxton, 6. Photo / supplied

The mother of a Tokoroa schoolboy who was chased and hit by a four-wheel-drive vehicle on Saturday says her son had his entire body run over and was left with tyre marks on his back.

Seth Tera, 15, was taken to Waikato Hospital with head and chest injuries after the driver of a four-wheel-drive allegedly chased him for several blocks before running him over in Baberton St about 3.30am on Saturday.

He was in a serious but stable condition in the hospital's intensive care unit today.

An 18-year-old Rotorua man was arrested last night and appeared in Tokoroa District Court charged with attempted murder. He was remanded in custody to reappear on September 25.

Police had earlier said the incident happened as part of a gang initiation, and that Seth and his two friends had no links to any gang but just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Seth's mother, Liz Tera, told NZPA she was focusing her energy on caring for her son and that news of the arrest had not had much of an impact.

"Funnily enough it's just a dull `oh' at the moment," she said.

"I'm just using all the energy I've got left to try and stay positive and talk to him (Seth), encouraging him to make himself well from the inside."

Ms Tera said her son had track marks running up his back, and was suffering from a skull fracture, broken ribs and punctured lungs.

"Occasionally he becomes conscious, but the hospital staff try to keep him sedated because his heart rate increases, which creates pressure on the brain which is not good for his healing."

Ms Tera said the attack came as a complete shock. Her son was not a trouble-maker and had no involvement in gang activity.

"It would appear that a group of thugs wandered into town and just decided to pick on this quiet group of boys. It's just unfortunate that this happened to Seth, my baby."

She said she hadn't heard of a similar situation in Tokoroa for more than 20 years.

"We just try to be law-abiding citizens and mind our own business. This is the first time something like this has happened to us."

Ms Tera said Seth's friends were upset about what had happened and had been part of a huge support group for the family following the incident.

"I think three quarters of the town have been up to visit him or text or have rung. It's just amazing."

- NZPA