Two young people have been arrested following an alleged serious assault and a vehicle incident in Kawerau, Bay of Plenty, last night.
At about 11.45pm Police spotted a vehicle of interest. The occupants were wearing balaclavas and allegedly swerved towards Police cars.
The vehicle eventually came to a stop in Kawerau after spikes were deployed on State Highway 30, near Te Teko, and the offenders fled on foot. They were caught a short time later by the Police Dog Unit.
Further enquiries determined one of the alleged offenders was also responsible for a serious assault involving a hammer at the Plains Hotel in Edgecumbe on Friday 23 October 2026.
A 17-year-old is facing three charges including wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, assault with a weapon and unlawfully getting into a motor vehicle. Today he pleaded guilty to all charges and has been remanded on bail for sentencing in the Whakatane District Court.
A 16-year-old has been referred to the youth justice process and faces possession of an offensive weapon and unlawfully getting into a motor vehicle charges.
Eastern Bay of Plenty Prevention Manager Inspector Phil Gillbanks says Police are pleased to have acted quickly to identify and apprehend those responsible.
“I would like to commend the sense of urgency shown by our staff in resolving this serious assault and bringing the alleged offender into custody.
“The victim, their whānau, and the wider Edgecumbe community have understandably been impacted by this incident, and we hope today’s arrests provide some reassurance.
“The actions of these young people presented a significant risk to public safety. Had they not been stopped, there is little doubt they may have gone on to create further victims in our community.
“The successful outcome is a credit to the professionalism, teamwork, and determination of our staff, who remained focused on protecting and supporting the Eastern Bay of Plenty community.”
