Minute's silence for slain teen, then back to class

Tributes to stabbed student Manaola Kaumeafaiva, 14, at Avondale College yesterday included wreaths placed at the end of the school day. Picture / Richard Robinson

Avondale College reopened with a minute's silence yesterday as students remembered slain classmate Manaola Kaumeafaiva, stabbed to death at the school gate less than 72 hours earlier.

At least six guidance counsellors from Avondale and other schools were on hand to offer assistance, and by day's end had spoken with scores of students, principal Brent Lewis said.

The counsellors would remain "as long as necessary".

"There will be some [students] for whom this will go on for a long time ... but the vast majority of students will find a place for this, and go on."

Manaola, 14, died outside the school after attending a church function on Sunday night.

The 2670-pupil school reopened yesterday after being closed on Tuesday while police and forensics staff carried out scene examinations. Investigators could be there for another 48 hours, Mr Lewis said yesterday.

A 16-year-old Mt Wellington boy charged in connection with the killing appeared in Auckland District Court yesterday as Child, Youth and Family staff struggled to find a bed for him in a youth facility. The teen - who cannot be named because of his age - faces a charge of assault and another of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. A murder charge is expected to be laid soon.

The boy has been held in a police cell since his arrest, and on Tuesday was 10th in the queue for a CYF bed. His position had improved little by yesterday morning, forcing Judge Avinash Deobhakta to send him back to police custody.

He was to return to a Youth Court hearing today, by which time it was hoped a bed would be available.

At Avondale College, "a couple of hundred" students took advantage of counselling services yesterday, said Mr Lewis. "A lot of it is low key ... it's just getting support from one another." It was important the students knew that the killing was not their fault, Mr Lewis said.

It seemed pretty much like business as usual as students headed home. One child, who played softball with Manaola, described his teammate's death as "a pretty bad thing to happen". Another student who had known Manaola since the pair attended Rosebank Primary together described him as "a kind person, friendly, funny".

One student carried a banner reading: "R.I.P, Dawn", Manaola's street and tagging name.

However, his friend insisted Manaola was not the type to spray graffiti around the town. He saved his "tags" for his exercise books.

And just because Manaola had a "street" name did not mean he was a gang member, his friend said.

"Tagging and gangs are different."