Boy 'critical', man charged with attempted murder

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

An 18-year-old Rotorua man has appeared in court after a Tokoroa schoolboy was chased and run over with a four-wheel-drive vehicle on Saturday.

The man was remanded in custody when he appeared at Tokoroa District Court today charged with the attempted murder of 15-year-old Seth Tera. He will reappear in court on September 25.

Tokoroa police arrested the accused man last night in rural Rotorua and seized an Isuzu MU vehicle they believe was used to run down Seth, who remains in a critical condition in Waikato Hospital's intensive care unit.

The man allegedly chased Seth for several blocks before finally running him over on Baberton St in Tokoroa about 3.30am on Saturday.

Police had earlier said the incident happened as part of a gang initiation.

The injured youth and his two friends had no links to any gang and they just happened to be "in the wrong place at the wrong time", police said.

- NZPA