Hamilton Teen Stabbed in Suspected Abduction Outside School

A 16-year-old boy was stabbed outside Fraser High School in Hamilton, New Zealand, in what is being investigated as a suspected abduction attempt. The incident took place around 12:45 p.m. on **October 20, 2023**, when the teenager was walking to his car parked on **Waimarie Street**, adjacent to the school grounds.

According to his mother, **Lady-Joe TangataTerekia**, her son was confronted by “two carloads of men wearing balaclavas” who encircled the area before ambushing him. “There were six of them that tried to abduct him,” TangataTerekia reported. “He just felt all this punching to his face, and they were trying to pull him into a vehicle. It happened so fast that he didn’t even realize he’d been stabbed,” she stated.

The boy sustained multiple stab wounds and underwent surgery for a perforated colon. He was discharged from the hospital on **October 27, 2023**, and is currently recovering at home. Despite his release, the attack has left him deeply shaken. “Just imagine if he was stabbed in the chest; it could have been instant death,” TangataTerekia expressed. “I couldn’t imagine losing any of my babies; they’re my world.”

Describing her son, TangataTerekia characterized him as a gentle and soft-hearted teen, affectionately calling him “a big teddy bear.” Standing at **1.93 meters** tall, he prefers peace over confrontation. “He’s such a lover, not a fighter. He was at church school that very morning,” she noted.

Community Shock and Ongoing Investigation

The **New Zealand Police** confirmed they were alerted to the incident shortly after the assault and are actively investigating. Authorities are currently treating the case as an assault rather than an attempted kidnapping. The attack has deeply affected the TangataTerekia family, prompting the mother of eleven to keep two of her younger children at home out of concern for their safety. In addition, her older sons have traveled from Australia to support the family during this difficult time.

“I feel fearful… you don’t know what the intention was,” TangataTerekia said. She raised concerns about the potential motives behind the attack, questioning, “Did they come to do what they needed to do?”

In a heartfelt public appeal posted on social media, TangataTerekia urged anyone with information regarding the incident to come forward. “If you are involved, or if you know something, please understand we are an open, loving whānau,” she wrote. “If there’s something to be sorted or a misunderstanding, we’re open to kōrero and understand.”

TangataTerekia expressed disappointment that the attackers appeared to be from their own community. “The sad thing is it’s our own people. We’ve already gone through enough, but yet we’re trying to kill each other off,” she lamented. “It’s about love, about being kind, and about lifting each other as a community.”

The police have reiterated that their inquiries are ongoing and have urged anyone who witnessed the assault or has pertinent information to contact them immediately. The community remains on edge as the investigation unfolds, with many sharing TangataTerekia’s calls for unity and understanding in the face of violence.