Thugs had one student in their sights

Armed thugs who terrorised an Auckland high school were trying to force their way through the gates to "deal with" a specific student.

Staff and students from Onehunga High spent much of yesterday with police reliving the ordeal in which a gang of 15 tried to batter its way into the school.

Principal Chris Saunders, and two other teachers were wounded during the attack on Monday afternoon.

Mr Saunders and police said they believed the gang were after a particular student, although they would not reveal who or why.

"None of the gang were from the school or from this area. There was someone in the school they wanted to deal with," Mr Saunders said.

Principal of the school for the last 15 years, Mr Saunders was smashed around the head with a piece of timber as he and two other teachers confronted the gang.

He needed stitches for facial cuts, another teacher was bashed on the jaw with a piece of wood and the third had cuts on the inside of his mouth and damage to his teeth.

Police spokeswoman Angeline Barlow said officers had been at the school to interview witnesses and she confirmed they were investigating an attack aimed at one student.

Police also defended criticism of their response to the situation.

The force's northern communications centre released a transcript of the 111 call after teachers claimed the response time was "at least 30 minutes".

The unusual step was taken "to dispel any misconceptions that the 111 calls were not treated with urgency and that there was a delay in dispatching police units," said Inspector Karen Wilson, acting centre manager at the Northern Communications Centre.

The transcript shows the call was received at 2.02pm and a dog unit sent 56 seconds later. It arrived at the school at 2.09pm and was joined by a second car 47 seconds later.

Ms Wilson said it was a frightening situation.

"In such circumstances time can take on a surreal quality and events seem to take a lot longer than they actually do."

Mr Saunders said he did not want to pursue the matter, but insisted there were many witnesses to a "very, very long" response time and that staff were acting "like bureaucrats rather than people with the ability to make judgments".

He said he did not see himself as a hero, but would stand in front of armed thugs again to protect his students.

"I think we were pretty lucky to have got off as lightly as we did. It is horrendous. It was absolutely unprovoked. It was about as ugly as it gets."

He said some of the thugs carried timber weapons and one carried a hammer.

None of the 15 youths has yet been caught, but Mr Saunders said police were confident they would be found.