Latest news with #Vasau
NZ Herald
06-05-2025
- NZ Herald
‘Every parent's worst nightmare': Principal on attempted abduction after school in Auckland
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 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-only day on Tuesday and today 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, in 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 children will be told it is 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 today 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. 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 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 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.
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.
Otago Daily Times
06-05-2025
- Otago Daily Times
Parents stop attempted abduction outside primary school
A stranger has attempted to abduct a South Auckland primary school student while they were walking home from school on Monday. In a statement on social media, the principal of Rowndale School in Manurewa Karl Vasau said a man tried to force a boy into his car just up the road from the school. "Luckily there were parents there that intervened and the man drove away. "The student then made his way home and told his parents who then came into school to let us know and then they rung the Police. "The police have been into school and are working with us on using some of our CTV footage from the front of the school." He urged parents or students who saw what happened to tell the school or contact the police using case number PO62455386. He said the school would dedicate part of its Teacher Only Day on Tuesday to working through how they would address the incident when students returned on Wednesday. "Our student is safe now and his family are thankful that nothing further happened to their boy but are wanting us all to be aware and stay safe." He encouraged parents to talk to their children about keeping themselves safe when walking to and from school. Vasau said he informed the Manurewa Principals Association about the abduction attempt on Monday and a warning had been passed on to all schools in the area. He said police would be patrolling the premises after school when students returned on Wednesday. He added education officers would also be coming in during the day to talk to students in the classroom and reinforce safe practices going to and from school. A relative claiming to be the students uncle said on social media the boy was 8-years-old and that 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. A police spokesperson confirmed they were investigating a man's interaction with a child outside Rowandale School on Monday afternoon. "At around 3pm, a man approached a young boy and began interacting with him as he was walking home on the footpath. "Nearby adults intervened and the male left the area." Police said they were still working to understand what happened. "We have spoken with the boy and will continue to work through a careful process given he is a young person." The spokesperson said they were working with Rowandale School and providing reassurance to its community. They said police were reviewing CCTV footage in the area and asked anyone with information to contact them using the reference number 250505/2064.
RNZ News
06-05-2025
- RNZ News
Parents stop man trying to abduct Auckland primary school student
A relative claiming to be the students uncle said on social media the boy was 8-years-old. Photo: A stranger has attempted to abduct a South Auckland primary school student while they were walking home from school on Monday. In a statement on social media, the principal of Rowndale School in Manurewa Karl Vasau said a man tried to force a boy into his car just up the road from the school. "Luckily there were parents there that intervened and the man drove away. "The student then made his way home and told his parents who then came into school to let us know and then they rung the Police. "The police have been into school and are working with us on using some of our CTV footage from the front of the school." He urged parents or students who saw what happened to tell the school or contact the police using case number PO62455386. He said the school would dedicate part of its Teacher Only Day on Tuesday to working through how they would address the incident when students returned on Wednesday. "Our student is safe now and his family are thankful that nothing further happened to their boy but are wanting us all to be aware and stay safe." He encouraged parents to talk to their children about keeping themselves safe when walking to and from school. The principal of Rowndale School in Manurewa Karl Vasau. Photo: Supplied Vasau said he informed the Manurewa Principals Association about the abduction attempt on Monday and a warning had been passed on to all schools in the area. He said police would be patrolling the premises after school when students returned on Wednesday. He added education officers would also be coming in during the day to talk to students in the classroom and reinforce safe practices going to and from school. A relative claiming to be the students uncle said on social media the boy was 8-years-old and that 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. A police spokesperson confirmed they were investigating a man's interaction with a child outside Rowandale School on Monday afternoon. "At around 3pm, a man approached a young boy and began interacting with him as he was walking home on the footpath. "Nearby adults intervened and the male left the area." Police said they were still working to understand what happened. "We have spoken with the boy and will continue to work through a careful process given he is a young person." The spokesperson said they were working with Rowandale School and providing reassurance to its community. They said police were reviewing CCTV footage in the area and asked anyone with information to contact them using the reference number 250505/2064. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
NZ Herald
05-05-2025
- NZ Herald
Attempted abduction of boy outside South Auckland's Rowandale School thwarted by parents
'He's fine', Rowandale School principal Karl Vasau said this morning of the pupil involved. 'I taught the boy's father. I feel his pain – this has really thrown him and his family … they're a very proactive family who have done all the right things.' Other schools in the South Auckland suburb are also being warned, Vasau said. 'This is a village and we all need to look out for each other.' He didn't know who the parents were who intervened but was keen to hear from them, as well as any other witnesses – adult or child – who might have information for police. The incident was the first of its kind he was aware of involving a Rowandale pupil, he said. Police couldn't immediately be contacted but Vasau said they'd taken CCTV footage showing the area in front of the school. The footage hadn't captured the attempted abduction. A relative of the boy posted on Facebook that his family were 'shaken by [the] terrifying incident'. 'We feel it is critical to warn our community.' They were thankful for the two people who intervened and 'helped prevent the worst from happening', urging them or anyone else with information to contact police and share what they know. The police case number for the incident is PO62455386. The boy had described his attempted abductor as a Polynesian man aged in his mid-50s to 60s and wearing a camouflage hunting jersey and black pants, the relative wrote. His vehicle was a small white sedan with words such as 'f*** you', 'piss off' and 'idiot' written on the side panels, with an image of a raised middle finger. The incident was a 'stark reminder of the importance of teaching children to stay aware of their surroundings and never engage with unknown individuals'. 'We are immensely grateful that our nephew is safe and commend his bravery for refusing to be lured by a stranger.' Today Vasau said it was a teacher's-only day at the school to prepare for the new maths curriculum, but which would also now include preparing for pupils' first day back at school since the incident. He was encouraging parents to talk to their kids about safety precautions when walking to and from school, backed up with support from the school.
