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‘Very scary’: Schools warned after children approached by man with knife

Author
Georgina Campbell,
Publish Date
Thu, 20 Feb 2025, 4:13pm
The incident was at the intersection of Tio Tio Rd and Ferry St in Seatoun.
The incident was at the intersection of Tio Tio Rd and Ferry St in Seatoun.

‘Very scary’: Schools warned after children approached by man with knife

Author
Georgina Campbell,
Publish Date
Thu, 20 Feb 2025, 4:13pm

Schools in Wellington鈥檚 eastern suburbs have been warned about a 鈥渧ery scary鈥 incident after an older man took out a knife and pointed it at a group of children.

Parents of students attending Holy Cross School in Miramar recently received a letter about what happened.

鈥淲e were made aware of an incident involving students from a nearby school being approached by an older man near the intersection of Tio Tio Road and Ferry Street in Seatoun after school,鈥 principal Tala Moemai said.

鈥淎 man, possibly in his 60s, approached a group of students, took a knife out of his pouch and pointed it at them.鈥

The children did not engage and called the police, Moemai said.

鈥淭his was a very scary incident for those involved and a good reminder for us all to talk with our children about stranger danger.鈥

Moemai reminded parents to discuss safety procedures with their children and to report any incident immediately to police.

A police spokesman confirmed they were called to Tio Tio Rd at 4pm on Monday after reports of a person with a knife.

鈥淧olice were unable to locate anyone matching the description of the person.鈥

The spokesman said police understood reports like this were alarming for the community.

鈥淲e remind everyone that if they are ever in immediate danger, to call 111.鈥

Seatoun School principal John Western said he alerted the local school community after a family told him about the incident.

鈥淚 am aware that police were on the scene quickly, but I have no other information. We take all alleged incidents seriously and endeavour to inform our community to help keep everyone as safe as possible.鈥

Georgina Campbell is a Wellington-based reporter who has a particular interest in local government, transport, and seismic issues. She joined the Herald in 2019 after working as a broadcast journalist.

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