Rotorua police want to hear from anyone who saw an incident involving a 15-year-old boy being stabbed with a screwdriver.
Acting Senior Sergeant Karl Konlechner of the Rotorua police said the teenager was walking on Old Quarry Rd near Selwyn School about 2.30am on Tuesday when another teenage male
muttered a gang slogan at him.
When the 15-year-old replied the other teenager, believed to be a Maori, aged 16 or 17, punched him.
There was an altercation between the pair during which the older teenager pulled out what was believed to be a short screwdriver and stabbed the 15-year-old in the chest.
The offender ran off and the 15-year-old went home before being taken to Rotorua Hospital. He had a 2cm shallow wound which required three stitches and he has subsequently been discharged from hospital.
Mr Konlechner described the attack as cowardly and senseless. "A youth being stabbed only because someone took exception to the colour of his jacket."
The offender is about 183cm tall, of stocky build and was wearing a black hooded top, dark coloured jeans and a bright blue bandanna over his mouth and nose. Anyone with any information should call the police on 348 0099 or 0800 TIP OFF.
