The parent said their son claimed he saw a box cutter used during the alleged incident.
“The teacher pushed him off and put his arms up,” he said, adding the teacher’s forearm was cut in the process.
“The students were screaming in shock and didn’t know what to do. Everyone was rushing for the door.”
Some frightened students hid in cupboards and classrooms, he said.
A teacher from an adjoining classroom directed students to the gymnasium.
The parent told the Herald the incident left his son shaken and he also criticised the school’s communication during the lockdown.
“I think it stresses parents out more when the school is in lockdown and you don’t know what’s going on.”
A rural Tuakau secondary school went into lockdown this morning. Photo / SuppliedAnother student earlier told RNZ that their classmates “were in tears” during the lockdown.
“In period two, about the middle of period two, there was a lockdown,” they said.
“Some students were crying in our classroom.
“There was a lockdown alarm, and it went on for like 40 minutes. And then the ambulance came, police came. It was quite a shock, actually.”
Just before 10am, Tuakau College posted a message on its website urging people to stay away from the school.
“Please DO NOT come to the school or phone the school,” it wrote.
Tuakau College said contacting the school could disrupt the management of the incident and put people’s safety at risk.
Counties Manukau Detective Inspector Shaun Vickers said the incident was between a student and a teacher.
He said emergency services were called to the scene at 9.55am after a person was reportedly injured.
“Upon arrival, a young person was quickly taken into custody,” Vickers said.
The victim has since been taken to hospital with minor injuries.
“We can reassure the wider community that the matter is contained and there is no wider risk to students or the wider public.”
A parent at the school shared a message with the Herald they received from the school board this afternoon.
The message said the board had decided to close for the remainder of the day from 1pm.
“The guidance team are available for both staff and students,” the school told parents.
Parents were advised to collect their children and were asked to be respectful and patient during this “unprecedented situation”.
A parent at Tuakau College shared a message they received from the school board after the incident. Photo / SuppliedHato Hone St John said it sent an ambulance and a rapid response vehicle to the school about 10am.
“One person was assessed at the scene and has been transported to Middlemore Hospital in a serious condition,” a spokesperson said.
Police and the school have been approached for further comment.
Emergency services were called to Tuakau College this morning. Photo / Payal Lal Sign up to The Daily H, a free newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
