Schoolboys use toy guns to harass mother in car

A mother driving a baby feared for her safety when students from an exclusive private school began shooting toy guns at her through their car window.

The St Kentigern College boys, who were driving a recent model Audi, pulled up beside the woman's car and pointed toys at her, a source told the Herald.

The mother, who had a baby in the back seat, mistook the toys for real guns and travelled up Pakuranga Highway with the boys following.

A member of the public claimed that the Audi reached speeds of up to 140km/h.

Acting executive head of St Kentigern College Suzanne Winthrop confirmed the incident, and said the students had been stood down for two days.

She said the Year 12 students were returning from a geography field trip to Tongariro National Park on Tuesday when they bought toy guns from a $2 store while the group stopped for lunch in Otorohanga.

The bus carrying the students returned to the school about 3pm and the boys retrieved the Audi from the school grounds before heading home.

They were spotted shooting pellets from windows on the passenger side of the vehicle as they drove home from the college about 3.30pm.

A member of the public alerted the police.

Mrs Winthrop said officers asked to speak to the boys and their parents, and a school staff member sat in on the interview. "Police rightly highlighted their extremely poor sense of judgment and are not pressing charges."

She said the college did not condone the behaviour and the incident had been dealt with appropriately. "We are incredibly disappointed in them to be quite honest."

The four students will return to school today and will be forced to deliver a formal apology.