NZ Herald Afternoon Headlines | Government weighs response to cyber attacks and Greens co-leader rules out Winston Peters | Wednesday, February 25, 2026
Western Springs College students have been subjected to serious ongoing threats from other young people not connected to the school, including heckling during the school’s athletics day.
Last week, police increased their presence around Western Springs College after online threats were allegedly aimed at its students were made bythose of another school.
This afternoon, the Western Springs College Ngā Puna o Waiōrea board of trustees confirmed that some of their students were subjected to threats from young people outside their school community.
“We know this has been worrying.
“At our board of trustees meeting on February 23, we discussed the situation in detail, and the safety and wellbeing of our young people remain our top priority,” the school said on social media.
The board of trustees said its members were working closely with police, neighbouring schools and the wider community to stop the threats.
“As an added precaution, from today we will temporarily increase security presence at the school gates during key arrival and departure times,” the board said.
Senior leaders at the school have urged students take some precautionary measures, the board said.
Students are being advised to walk with friends or in groups and not alone.
“Do not linger or loiter at bus stops – catch your bus when it arrives," the school advised.
Students were also asked not to be an onlooker and not to get involved in any social media posts relating to any of these incidents.
Tension rises
Western Springs College’s principal Ivan Davis claimed the tension started when some students from another school crashed the college’s athletics day on its fields on February 12.
“Students were hanging over the fence and shouting out ‘we’re coming to get you’ and all that sort of stuff.
“I think that’s what raised the tension, which is why our kids were worried about going home, which is why we called the police ... it just starts off from, you know, something innocuous like that.”
Davis said staff were escorting students to the bus stops on Great North Rd after school as a safety precaution.
The Herald understands a nearby school was doing the same.
Western Springs College students have been subjected to threats. Photo / Alex Burton
Threats to Western Springs students were allegedly being made in videos posted to TikTok and Discord about a school rivalry.
Davis said the police’s presence and the work by staff at the involved schools had helped defuse the situation.
On Wednesday last week, officers were physically present around the Pasadena shops, stepping out of their vehicles, which helped deter any potential problem activity, he said.
Last Thursday went “completely without incident”, he said.
A store worker whose shop is near Western Springs College told the Herald they were losing $500-$600 a day because fewer students are walking home and passing the shop.
Western Springs College students have been subjected to threats. Photo / Alex Burton
They had overheard students discussing how they want to beat other students up, said the store worker, who did not wish to be named.
A police spokesperson told the Herald they were working very closely with the schools involved to ensure the safety of all students.
“In some areas, there remains an increased police presence at select times of the day.
“This presence is a precautionary measure, and we want to ensure students’ safety and prevent any altercations from taking place,” the spokesperson said.
