Schoolboy attacked with metal pole on Auckland bus

The schoolboy had three teeth knocked out and two more damaged when he was randomly attacked on a bus in Auckland.

• A woman used a metal rod to attack a 16-year-old boy on an Auckland bus.
• The victim lost three teeth and had two more damaged in the attack, which involved the woman yelling racial slurs.
• Police say they are working hard to locate the person responsible and are seeking assistance from the public.

A 16-year-old schoolboy has been left with facial injuries after a brutal attack by a woman with a steel rod on an Auckland bus.

Only one person intervened in the racially motivated attack at about 9am on Friday that resulted in the boy having three teeth knocked out and a further two teeth damaged.

“I was taking the bus to Panmure, and just past Pakuranga Plaza, a woman started verbally abusing me and then immediately started to physically abuse me,” the schoolboy, who asked not to be named, told the Herald.

The woman started yelling racial slurs at the Chinese-New Zealand boy before attacking 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 time he had experienced a racially motivated attack.

The metal rod that was used to attack a young boy on an Auckland bus on Friday. Photo / NZME

“I completely lost three [teeth] and I’ve broken two.”

“I can’t repair them right now ... I have to wait for the wound to heal.”

He felt “embarrassed” after the attack because he would probably have to wear fake teeth until he turned 18.

Although there were more than 10 people on the bus, only one person intervened in the attack.

“A 75-year-old gentleman at the back helped me to control the woman and get in the middle.”

The woman jumped off the bus at the Williams Ave bus stop in Pakuranga and ran away.

“We shouted at the driver, ‘don’t open the door’, but he opened the door and she ran away.”

He thought the woman was in her 40s, with a large build and dressed in all black.

“I feel a bit fearful, this time it was a stick, next time who knows what’s going to happen, maybe a knife?” he said.

The boy hoped sharing his story would encourage people to intervene if they saw someone being assaulted.

“Be careful on the bus, protect yourself, and hopefully, when it happens around them and people can stand up and help.”

Police are investigating the assault against the schoolboy on a bus in the Panmure area on Friday. Photo / NZME

He didn’t think the woman had been found yet and police confirmed they were continuing to look into the matter.

Acting detective senior sergeant James Mapp said an unknown woman boarded the bus before assaulting the victim with an object.

“This was an unprovoked assault, which left the victim with serious facial injuries.

”We understand the fear and concern events like this inflict on the community and we will continue to pursue every lead to hold this person to account.

”Police have no tolerance for this type of crime or intimidation in our communities.

”We are also providing support to the victim and want to reassure the community we are working hard to locate the person responsible.”

Mapp said police would like to hear from anyone who has information.

A Hato Hone St John spokesperson said an ambulance attended the scene and helped organise a dentist for the patient.

A spokesperson for Auckland Transport said they were sorry to hear about this “horrible incident”.

“The safety of everyone who uses our transport network and facilities is our top priority.

“We can confirm that we are aware of the incident. We understand that the bus operator has provided footage to police.”

Data from Auckland Transport shows attacks on bus drivers have more than doubled in the past two years.

Although 24 fewer incidents overall were reported last year than in 2022, there were more reports of violence against bus drivers than in the previous year.

If anyone witnessed the incident they can contact police on 105 and quote file number 240628/8342, or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Jaime Lyth is a multimedia journalist for the New Zealand Herald, focusing on crime and breaking news. Lyth began working under the NZ Herald masthead in 2021 as a reporter for the Northern Advocate in Whangārei.