Police have today spoken of the “tragic event involving two very young people” after a fatal stabbing at a Dunedin bus hub yesterday.
A 13-year-old boy appeared in court this morning charged with murder after a 16-year-old boy died in the incident near the central Dunedin police station.
This afternoon, Otago Coastal Area Commander Inspector Marty Gray spoke at a press conference in Dunedin.
“This was a tragic event involving two very young people,” he said.
“Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the 16-year-old who died yesterday.”
Police are still working to determine the circumstances, and so he is limited in what he can say.
Gray said he was unable to comment if the pair were known to each other.
Police were on the scene within one minute paying medical aid to the victim and apprehending the offender.
The victim suffered one stab wound, as far as he was aware.
He said there were no links to gang activity.
“We know antisocial behaviour has been at the bus hub,” Gray said.
Dunedin Mayor Jules Radich was among the people to lay flowers at a floral tribute at the scene of the stabbing.
The scene has also been blessed.
“These events will have impacts across our entire community – from the victim’s whānau and friends to the Trinity Catholic College staff and pupils, as well as those of other schools, and our Pasifika and wider Dunedin communities,” Radich said.
“The ripple effects of this event are being felt far and wide across our city. My heart goes out to everyone impacted, including the 13-year-old now before the courts.
“This is a disaster for everyone. We are all grieving.”
Radich called on the Dunedin community to come together and support each other during the difficult days ahead.
“I was incredibly moved to see this support between different parts of our community on display at the Bus Hub today, as people gathered to pay respects to the young man tragically taken from his family.
“It shows what we can all do when we come together, and I encourage everyone to follow this tremendous example of aroha in the days ahead.”
Police were working with a range of partners to limit some of that activity, including the installation of CCTV.
He said police were working hard to prevent this type of offending, and the had seen a decrease in incident such as this occurring.
Security staff were working at the scene yesterday and quickly intervened, he said.
No other people were likely to be charged, Gray said.
“Dunedin city is not dissimilar to whole lot of other city’s in New Zealand where we have a convergence of a lot of people in one area at similar times.”
Police have gathered some evidence, including footage that has come forth.
Gray said police were always adjusting priorities and moving to where demand is.
“This is no different,” he said.
“We know by the very nature of it that this crime is isolated. We don’t have incidents like this occurring every day.”
He said anti-social behaviour was common at the bus hub, like bullying and teasing.
Police usually have patrols in the area, but unfortunately, they were not there at that time in the day, he said.
The accused appeared in the Dunedin Youth Court before Judge Michael Turner this morning.
He has been remanded into the custody of the chief executive of Oranga Tamariki until an appearance before the High Court at Dunedin on June 11.
He has automatic name suppression.
The 16-year-old was treated by ambulance staff and police after the incident shortly after 3pm on Thursday.
The incident occurred at the Dunedin bus hub, on Great King St in the centre city, where hundreds of school pupils were gathered for after-school transit.
The victim was taken to hospital in a serious condition and died that evening, police confirmed in a statement shortly after 8pm.
Police are asking witnesses or anyone with information to provide videos and photos of the incident.
They have set up a secure portal allowing people to upload footage or pictures anonymously. This can be accessed by going to https://tolerance.nc3.govt.nz/
“This is an incredibly tragic situation for all involved and we are working to support the victim’s family, who are understandably distraught at the sudden and violent loss of their loved one,” Detective Senior Sergeant Kallum Croudis said.
“We’re aware that people in the area around the bus hub on Great King St may have photos or video footage of the incident.”
Police have asked anyone with photos or videos, or anyone who witnessed the incident, to contact Dunedin police via 105, quoting file number 240523/3321.
At the time of the incident, a group of young people were at the scene speaking to police. Some were in tears.
A witness told the Herald they saw a fight and was later told that someone had been stabbed.
Groups of people were taken to the police station. Youths were heard speaking about a video of the incident circulating online.
A spokesperson for Hato Hone St John said it was notified at 3.08pm on Thursday and responded with one ambulance and one manager.
Police were working to establish the circumstances leading up to the incident. They confirmed a knife had been recovered from the scene.
Several inquiries are underway and a post-mortem is expected to be carried out today.
Police said they were working with Victim Support to help the victim’s family at this extremely difficult time.
Otago Regional Council chairwoman Gretchen Robertson said the bus hub was open and, aside from a diversion for Bus Stop B, it was safe for the public to use.
“We acknowledge this is a serious incident and tragedy, and that it impacts people’s trust and confidence. We continue to urge people to have confidence in the safety of our bus system; however, acknowledge terrible incidents such as the loss of a young person does impact on people and we’ll work hard to address that.”
Robertson said council staff would revisit security requirements alongside Dunedin City Council and police.
Otago Coastal Area Commander Inspector Marty Gray said police had increased patrols around Great King St.
“Police have increased our foot and car patrols in the area focusing on peak times to ensure high visibility of police officers.
“The incident yesterday was a tragedy and our hearts go out to the victim and his family.
“Police have been aware of anti-social behaviour at the bus hub for some time and have been working closely with the Dunedin City Council, Otago Regional Council and other partners to address this issue.”
Police said they could not comment further, as the case was now before the courts.
The joint Dunedin Student Council presidents said safety at the bus hub had long been an issue.
“The attack in the bus hub yesterday afternoon was incredibly tragic. Our hearts go out to the family of the victim. We must acknowledge that we need to do better to keep our young people safe. No student should be unsafe on their way to or from school ... we need action now,” they said in a statement.
The incident is the latest in a string of assaults at the Dunedin bus hub since it opened in 2019.
In 2022, a Dunedin man was arrested after he attacked a pedestrian and punched an 83-year-old man in the face outside the central police station.
The 45-year-old pushed a 63-year-old man into the street of the Great King St bus hub on October 26, 2022, before straddling the victim and repeatedly punching him in the head, as well as inflicting kicks to the torso.
When an 83-year-old bystander tried to intervene, the offender punched him in the head.
In November last year, a man was punched and kicked by a drunk in a racially motivated attack at the bus hub.
Ben Tomsett is a multimedia journalist for the New Zealand Herald, based in Dunedin.
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