The CCTV footage showed a woman, dressed all in black and carrying a suitcase.
The assault was about 9.15am last Friday ona bus travelling from Howick towards Auckland City along Pakuranga Rd.
According to police, the woman boarded at a Pakuranga Rd bus stop, by the intersection with Johns Lane, and left the bus after it stopped on the busway, near Williams Ave.
The boy, who did not wish to be identified, told the Heraldthat he was taking the bus to Panmure, and just passed Pakuranga Plaza when a woman verbally abused him and then attacked him.
The woman yelled racial slurs at the Chinese-New Zealand boy before hitting him with a metal rod, unprovoked.
“I was just listening to music, scrolling my phone, and then it happened. She just stood up and hit me.”
The schoolboy has lived in New Zealand for seven years, almost half his life, and said this was the first racially motivated attack he had experienced.
Police have released photos of a woman who attacked a 16-year-old boy on an East Auckland bus. Photo / Police
Mapp said police could not yet say whether it was a hate-related crime.
“Police continue to have no tolerance for this type of crime or intimidation in our communities.
“We work with Auckland Transport on a range of issues, and will continue to do so to prevent incidents like this or in response to situation like these.”
Support is being provided to the victim.
“We continue to encourage people to report all crimes to police rather than taking matters into your own hands as this can put yourself at risk.”
Police want to hear from anyone who recognises the woman who attacked a 16-year-old boy on an East Auckland bus. Photo / Police
Contact police on 105 and quote file number 240628/8342.
