'Die, die, die' teen told stabbed stepfather

A 15-year-old boy told his stepfather to "die, die, die" after stabbing him in the heart with a carving knife in Tokoroa.

Nooroa Raivaru, who is now 16, was to have gone on trial in the High Court at Rotorua on Monday for the murder of Tuarae Tau on December 27 last year.

However, he changed his plea to guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter and was remanded on bail for sentencing on August 10.

Raivaru, with his mother and Mr Tau, travelled to Tokoroa from their Auckland home on Boxing Day for a family reunion, the police summary of facts said.

Mr Tau began drinking at a family home about 11.30am and his behaviour deteriorated as he became increasingly intoxicated.

Raivaru was also at the house and joined in the socialising. He was also drinking, but to a lesser extent.

About 4am the next day Mr Tau began an argument with Raivaru's mother.

The fight escalated into an exchange of punches between the mother, Raivaru and Mr Tau, before the stepfather was eventually taken outside and told to leave.

Mr Tau continued to verbally abuse Raivaru and his mother.

The 15-year-old became very angry, grabbed a large carving knife from the kitchen and went outside to find his stepfather.

"An altercation has then taken place between them and punches were thrown," the police summary said.

During the fight Raivaru plunged the knife into the upper half of his stepfather's chest, hitting his heart and killing him.

After Mr Tau collapsed on the ground, his stepson was heard to say to him "die, die, die".

Justice Geoffrey Venning said it was unusual for a court to grant bail to someone who had pleaded guilty to manslaughter.

"However there is another unusual feature and that is your age".

Justice Venning said Raivaru, who is now living with an aunt in Auckland, had kept to his strict bail conditions in the lead-up to the trial date and the same conditions would remain until he was sentenced.

Any breach of conditions would lead to Raivaru being remanded in custody, he said.

- NZPA