Police will increase patrols at New Lynn station after Auckland school students were urged to avoid the area this afternoon over fears of a planned mass brawl after school.
Inspector Kelly Farrant said there would be an increased police and security presence in the area ahead of the end of the school day.
"Police want to emphasise that this type of behaviour is completely unacceptable, and we will utilise all tools available to us to identify and hold youth offenders to account."
Farrant said staff have conducted increased patrols in recent weeks in response to issues with "groups of young people fighting or intimidating people".
"Police want to emphasise that this type of behaviour is completely unacceptable, and we will utilise all tools available to us to identify and hold youth offenders to account."
An email from Western Springs College/Ngā Puna o Waiōrea to parents said it had been asked to notify families to tell their children to avoid New Lynn station on Friday afternoon.
"We have been asked to notify whānau to please avoid students from transferring or stopping at New Lynn bus and train station tomorrow afternoon," it said.
"If possible, please organise students to take alternative routes or make other arrangements."
Green Bay High School also sent an email to parents about the planned brawl this morning.
"While we are not aware of any information about a planned event involving our school, I have been in contact with police this morning," said principal Fiona Barker in an email seen by 1News.
"For our Green Bay High School students and whānau we recommend you plan to avoid the New Lynn train station if possible, and if you do need to pass through, be alert and spend as little time there as possible."
Auckland Transport confirmed it was aware of the reports.
"Our ops and transport staff are in contact with police and will support as needed," a spokesperson said.
It comes after a 13-year-old girl was attacked by a group of up to 20 children as she waited at New Lynn station for a bus last month.
Another teenage victim, who was attacked on a bus in Albany last month, told 1News: "It's so stressful because we need to bus, but we're scared to.
"I'm still in shock and I can't believe that it happened, absolutely."
A group of six young people — one of whom was found with a knife — were taken into custody over the incident after allegedly assaulting two teenage girls.
The victim said she would be taking a break from the bus for a while due to the "traumatic" incident but has to rely on the bus as her main mode of transport.
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