School principal stunned by 'threatening' invasion

Photo / Martin Sykes

Police are investigating another "invasion" after a fight at a secondary school which took place yesterday.

About 20 boys, believed to be from Mana College in Porirua, allegedly went to Bishop Viard College at lunch time and threatened students on the rugby field. It is understood they were armed with a baseball bat.

Bishop Viard principal Hedley Aitken met with police this morning and will talk to Mana College.

Mr Aitken said a group of "outsiders" came to his school but teachers and senior pupils saw the group off.

"We had a group come on to the property, they came in a threatening manner and we had to disperse. We did that relatively quickly," he said.

Mr Aitkin said senior students stepped in to calm younger ones down.

He said he was working with the other college to find out exactly what took place.

Mr Aitkin said in his 13 years at the school, nothing like an invasion has happened.

Mana College principal Mike Webster has made a short statement.

"We have become aware of an issue that occurred today, that we will be investigating with Bishop Viard College and the police. When we have the full information about this situation, we will then develop collaborative solutions to whatever problems we find."

The incident follows two attacks at two other secondary schools this week.

A student was attacked while he was attending class at Lynfield College in west Auckland and a Thai home stay student was beaten up on a bus in Christchurch by fellow Avonside Girls High School students.

The Lynfield College student who led a group of armed teenagers to a classroom where they beat up a 14-year-old boy has been suspended from school.

Staff of the police youth services division are dealing with the eight intruders involved in Monday's attack, which is believed to have been sparked by comments on the social networking website Bebo.

Principal Steve Bovaird said the Lynfield student who led the teenagers to their target would appear next week before the board of trustees, which would decide whether he would be expelled or be allowed back to school on certain conditions.

The victim, who required medical treatment for cuts and bruises, had yet to return to school.

Mr Bovaird spoke to the college yesterday about internet safety.

"Think twice before you hit the send button," he said. "Don't say something to someone that you wouldn't say to them face to face. Students aren't the only ones guilty of that."

It is understood Mt Roskill Grammar students had a term holiday on Monday so the attackers were not under the school's care.

Principal Greg Watson would not reveal details of the students involved, saying only: "The assault on the student at Lynfield College is an extremely serious matter. At Mt Roskill Grammar School, we are investigating all of the options available. The matter is also in the hands of the police."

Police spokeswoman Noreen Hegarty said officers were called to Lynfield College about 1pm.

The eight attackers - aged between 14 and 16 - were found later in the afternoon.

Three will be dealt with by police youth services staff under a referral for aggravated assault and for unlawfully being on a property.

The other five had less seriously been reported to youth services in relation to the incident.

Ms Hegarty said police might hold family group conferences for the three referred teenagers. This process might also include their families and any victims, which could include the school and witnesses.

It is understood one of the attackers yelled out the name of an Afghan street gang during the violence.

Ms Hegarty said the intruders were from at least three ethnic backgrounds.

Police were aware of street groups but would not reveal the nature of them, she said.

"We are fully aware of the existence of several ethnically based and geographically based groups in the western area of the Auckland City district but prefer not to elevate their profiles by singling any particular groups out for specific comment."