Latest news with #RowandaleSchool
NZ Herald
08-05-2025
- NZ Herald
Police investigate after West Auckland schoolboy offered ride by stranger
'There were no reports of threats or violence involved.' In a notice to parents yesterday morning, school staff wrote that a pupil had been 'approached by a stranger in a car this morning on their way to school asking if he wanted a ride'. 'He did all the right things and told her no thank you, continued walking and reported it to an adult … please talk to your children about what to do in situations such as these, and report any suspicious behaviour.' Police were investigating the incident as a 'report of suspicious activity', said Farrant, the Waitematā West area prevention manager. Farrant didn't immediately provide a description of the woman or her vehicle. 'We are now making enquiries to identify the woman. As part of these enquiries, we will seek to understand what exactly has occurred.' Reports like this were 'understandably unsettling', Farrant said. 'We ask the community to continue reporting suspicious activity to us … report this to police as soon as possible by calling 111.' Anyone with information on yesterday's incident should call police on 105 and cite the reference number 250507/8761. 'He's not my father' In the Manurewa incident, the boy was walking home by himself for the first time when he was approached about 100m north of Rowandale School on Rowandale Ave by a Polynesian man aged in his mid-50s to 60s and offered lollies. After turning the lollies down and walking away, the boy 'felt that this man had grabbed him from behind', the 8-year-old's uncle told 1News yesterday. 'With retaliation he had pushed the man's hand away and ran away.' Other parents called out, asking the man – who was wearing a camouflage jacket and driving a white sedan with offensive words and gestures on the side panels – if he was the boy's father. 'The man … said 'Yes', and then my nephew responded 'No, he's not my father'," the uncle told 1News. Police are continuing to investigate the incident, which occurred at 3.05pm on Monday, Detective Senior Sergeant Kevin Tiernan said. 'We are taking this matter seriously and our inquiries are ongoing, including working to identify the vehicle the man was driving.' Reassurance patrols were also taking place at the start and finish of the school day, said Tiernan, of Counties Manukau Central CIB. 'We continue to ask anyone with information to contact Police on 105 using the reference number 250505/2064,' Tiernan said.
RNZ News
07-05-2025
- RNZ News
Second potential attempted child abduction reported near Auckland school
Kaurilands School in Titirangi says one of its students was approached by a woman in a car on their way into school. Photo: Google Streetview A second Auckland school is reporting a potential attempted abduction, just days after a similar incident in south Auckland . Kaurilands School in Titirangi says one of its students was approached by a woman in a car on their way into school on Wednesday morning, asking if he wanted a ride. "He did all the right things and told her no thank you, continued walking and reported it to an adult," the school said in a note to parents. It comes just days after bystanders intervened when a man tried to get a boy into a car while he was walking home from Rowandale School. "Please talk to your children about what to do in situations such as these and report any suspicious behaviour," the Kaurilands School statement said, adding the incident has been reported to police. RNZ has approached police for comment.
1News
07-05-2025
- 1News
School abduction attempt: Family praise eight-year-old's swift action
The family of a South Auckland boy who escaped an attempted abduction outside his school has spoken of the youngster's bravery and presence of mind during the incident. Yesterday, a stranger allegedly tried to force the boy into a car outside Rowandale School before bystanders intervened and the man drove off. The boy, 8, who was earlier reported as being nine years old, was first offered lollies outside the Manurewa school, which he declined. The boy's close uncle, William, said: 'I have no words to describe the feelings that we have. 'As he walked away, he felt that this man had grabbed him from behind and with retaliation he had pushed the man's hand away and ran away.' He said other parents called out during the incident, asking the man whether he was the father. 'The man replied, and said 'yes', and then my nephew responded 'no, he's not my father'." The family said it all happened within just a few seconds. But even so, the boy was able to give a detailed description of the man, and said he was Polynesian, in his 50s or 60s, wore a camouflage jacket and black trousers, and sped off in a white car with lots of swear words written on the side. It was the first day the boy had been allowed to walk home by himself. Rowandale School principal Karl Vasau said the boy's parents were usually waiting for him on the corner. 'So this was the day. So, of all days, this is what their child has told them when he's come home.' Another parent at the school, Ana, said the community was being supportive of one another. 'I know, like in the current, I was really concerned for the child's safety, as well as the many children here. 'I think there is quite a strong presence in this community and a lot of parents around this area in our neighbourhood of Manurewa take pride in supporting each other and making sure that all our children are safe.' Police kept an extra close outside the school today, and shared messages about stranger danger at an assembly, which was backed up by the Vasau and by teachers in the classrooms. Reflecting on the boy's swift actions, William said he was 'grateful' that he and his family have taught the boy about road safety and stranger danger. 'But we just want to make sure that not just my own nephew, but even our kids in the community or any family to go through.' Police said they were working to identify the man and his vehicle.
Otago Daily Times
06-05-2025
- Otago Daily Times
Abduction attempt 'every parent's worst nightmare'
A South Auckland primary school will be holding safety talks with students today, after a stranger tried to abduct a student while he was walking home from school on Monday. It was "every parent's worst nightmare and every principal's dread", Rowandale School principal Karl Vasau told Morning Report. "Luckily there were parents there that intervened and the man drove away." Police are now investigating the incident in Manurewa. Vasau said the 9-year-old boy had a very supportive family and it was his first day walking home alone. "This was a day... he decided to convince his parents would be the first day he could walk all the way home by himself, so what a great start to him being independent and brave and his parents being trusting in him. "We're very happy that the outcome turned out the way it did but very very cautious and upset that this was an experience this student had on Monday." The focus today would be connecting with as many people who intervened as possible, he said. The school had a teacher's only day on Tuesday, and today children would be spoken to about safety when walking home. "We're just going to reinforce the messages that we would hope would be normal for them, is what does safety walking to and from school look like, what are they supposed to be doing, who are they allowed to be walking with, where are they going. "What's important is that we don't create a fear among our kids of other people and adults because in this instance a stranger supported one of our students and so we don't want to create that stranger danger thing but if someone that you don't know is asking you to do something that you know is wrong, seek support or move away and get home as soon as possible." The kids will be told it's important to talk to their parents about what has happened and parents will be asked to reinforce safe practices with their children. Police would be patrolling the premises after school when students returned on Wednesday and education officers would also speak with the children. Police said they had spoken to the child and were working through a careful process because of his age. "At around 3pm, a man approached a young boy and began interacting with him as he was walking home on the footpath," police said. "Nearby adults intervened and the male left the area." Vasau urged parents or students who saw what happened to tell the school or contact the police. Uncle gives more detail A relative claiming to be the student's uncle said on social media the suspect approached the boy at about 3:05pm on Monday. The post on Facebook went on to say this individual tried to take the boy by force outside the main gates of Good News Family Church on Rowandale Rd, before two individuals intervened in the attempted abduction. He said the family were asking these people to contact police and report what they witnessed. The family member described the suspect as a Polynesian man, estimated to be in his mid-50s to 60s, wearing a camouflage hunting jersey and long black pants. He was reported by the family to be driving a small white sedan with swear words written on the side panels and an image of a raised middle finger.
RNZ News
06-05-2025
- RNZ News
'Every parent's worst nightmare': Principal on attempted abduction after school in Auckland
Photo: RNZ A south auckland primary school will be holding safety talks with students today, after a stranger tried to abduct a student while he was walking home from school on Monday. It was "every parent's worst nightmare and every principal's dread", Rowandale School principal Karl Vasau told Morning Report . "Luckily there were parents there that intervened and the man drove away." Police are now investigating the incident in Manurewa. Vasau said the 9-year-old boy has a very supportive family and it was his first day walking home alone. "This was a day... he decided to convince his parents would be the first day he could walk all the way home by himself, so what a great start ot him being independent and brave and his parents being trusting in him. "We're very happy that the outcome turned out the way it did but very very cautious and upset that this was an experience this student had on Monday." The focus on Wednesday would be connecting with as many people who intervened as possible, he said. The school had a teacher's only day on Tuesday and on Wednesday children will spoken to about safety when walking home. "We're just going to reinforce the messages that we would hope would be normal for them, is what does safety walking to and from school look like, what are they supposed to be doing, who are they allowed to be walking with, where are they going. "What's important is that we don't create a fear among our kids of other people and adults because in this instance a stranger supported one of our students and so we don't want to create that stranger danger thing but if someone that you don't know is asking you to do something that you know is wrong, seek support or move away and get home as soon as possible." The kids will be told it's important to talk to their parents about what has happened and parents will be asked to reinforce safe practices with their children. Police would be patrolling the premises after school when students returned on Wednesday and education officers will also speak with the children. Police said they have spoken to the child and are working through a careful process because of his age. "At around 3pm, a man approached a young boy and began interacting with him as he was walking home on the footpath," police said. "Nearby adults intervened and the male left the area." Vasau urged parents or students who saw what happened to tell the school or contact the police using case number PO62455386. Photo: Supplied A relative claiming to be the students uncle said on social media the suspect approached the boy at about 3:05pm on Monday afternoon. The post on Facebook went on to say this individual tried to take the boy by force outside the main gates of Good News Family Church on Rowandale Road, before two individuals intervened in the attempted abduction. He said the family were asking these people to contact police and report what they witnessed. The family member described the suspect as a Polynesian man, estimated to be in his mid-50s to 60s, wearing a camouflage hunting jersey and long black pants. He was reported by the family to be driving a small white sedan with swear words written on the side panels and an image of a raised middle finger.
