An email sent to local parents, which the Herald has seen, said it was a likely copycat event from Hamilton where flyers have been circulating about a “battle of the hoods”.
This was also due to take place at 3pm today at the Hamilton Bus Depot and continue “all around town”, according to a poster circulated widely on social media.
“Stab for stab,” the poster read.
Hamilton mayor Paula Southgate told the Herald she is “shocked and disgusted” to hear about the organised fight and called the poster “incredibly confronting”.
“What was really of concern to me is that it was a neighbourhood versus neighbourhood. That’s just tragically sad for our city that people would want three neighbourhoods to come together and harm each other,” she said.
Hutt South MP Ginny Andersen said one theory was that advertising for Hamilton’s fight was taken and doctored to make it look like an event in the Hutt.
“We’re not sure whether it was real or not, but there’s extra police down there just in case it is.”
She said that as of 4pm, a fight had not broken out.
It was important for people not to be alarmed, Andersen said.
Parents were earlier told the event may involve weapons and acts of violence.
They were advised they may want to make alternative arrangements if their children transit through or travel to Queensgate shopping mall.
National list MP Chris Bishop confirmed he was told by a local teacher about the planned fight.
“It’s really concerning to see the potential threat of a significant incident on a Friday afternoon, especially around school pick-up and drop-off time and students getting the bus home.”
Bishop said the area has been a hot spot for violence and it was incredibly traumatic for those caught up in it.
Andersen, Bishop, and other local leaders have been working to address crime and disorder in the area.
Extra police have been deployed in recent months to “deter antisocial and harmful behaviour”, which has reportedly been successful.
