Seth's mother: He's a good kid

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

The mother of a Tokoroa boy critically injured in a hit-and-run attack says the town is a safe place to live despite the attempt on her son's life.

Seth Tera, 15, is in a stable but critical condition after he was chased several blocks and run down by a four-wheel-drive vehicle in what police believe was part of a gang initiation early on Saturday.

The alleged driver, 18-year-old Dion Hugh Bolt, was arrested on Sunday night at a rural Rotorua address.

He did not enter a plea when he appeared in the Tokoroa District Court yesterday morning charged with attempted murder.

He was remanded in custody until September 28.

Seth's mother, Liz Tera, said her son still might not pull through his severe head and chest injuries.

She had barely slept since she was awakened with the news on Saturday, and had kept a constant vigil with family and friends at her son's bedside in Waikato Hospital.

An administrator with Te Wananga o Aotearoa in Tokoroa and recently diagnosed with swine flu, Mrs Tera said Seth and a third boy had been staying at a friend's house when they decided to go to the town's pie cart to buy some chips early on Saturday morning.

Mrs Tera insisted neither her son nor his friends had any gang affiliations. "They are not troublemakers ... they care about their appearance and [hair] products ... they're into girls."

She still could not understand the reasons for the attack, though police believe the boys were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.

"As far as I know the boys were minding their own business, pretty much," she said.

"It is dreadful to even try to imagine what was going through my son's head as this was happening ... my question is why Seth ? He's just the coolest kid."

Mrs Tera said the small Waikato township was safe and a good place to live, despite the attack.

"It's a cool town, the neighbours are cool. We don't breed troublemakers here ... trouble comes into town."

Seth's Te Reo Maori tutor Billy Maea said the close-knit school was still in shock.

His pupil was "the nicest kid you will ever meet" and a star loosehead prop for his school's under-15 side.

"He is a gentle giant off the field, but on it he is hardcore," said Mr Maea.

Tokoroa CIB Detective Sergeant Kevan Verry said further arrests were possible.

An Isuzu MU 4WD vehicle allegedly used in the attack has been seized.

Police want to hear from anyone who saw the charcoal-coloured vehicle, registration ZX9349, in the Tokoroa or Mangakino area on Friday or Saturday.