Bullies run rampant at Tokoroa skate park
Tears flowed as a Tokoroa mother recalled finding a 13-year-old bruised and battered at the town’s skate park while the attacker stood metres away.
Jazaine Mahia, whose three children aged 14, 11, and eight regularly use the skate park, is still shaken from the ordeal.
‘‘There were many parents around that day but because the children were in huge bunches you couldn’t tell what was happening,’’ she said.
‘‘When I approached the victim, half her face was blue and purple and swollen. I sat with her for approximately 30 minutes while waiting for the police to arrive and the whole time her attacker stood metres behind her, tormenting her.’’
Mahia said it was not an isolated incident with bullying and antisocial behaviour having become rampant at the park since it opened on the corner of Roslin St and O’Sullivan Dr in 2018.
‘‘The bullies there don’t care who’s around anymore,’’ she told
There have been some horrifying incidents of violence where young children are being seriously hurt.
‘‘On one occasion, a knife fight between two teenagers was witnessed by young kids and on another occasion teens as young as 13 drinking alcohol down there during the night.
‘‘I have started hearing comments from other parents who no longer like their children going to the skate park to play because of the constant violence. This behaviour has to stop.’’
She urged the South Waikato District Council to urgently address the concerns by installing better lighting, CCTV cameras, and holding community events to encourage good behaviour. She also called for an increased police presence as well as Pacific wardens.
Mayor Jenny Shattock said it would be addressed.
‘‘It is certainly something we need to be very, very aware of and actually do something about,’’ she said.
Deputy Mayor Bill Machen, who lived next to the skate park, expressed anger at the lack of police presence.
‘‘I have observed some bad behaviour down there and unfortunately I contacted the police three times, two of them on 111 calls. I am exceedingly disappointed with the reaction, or no reaction, from Tokoroa Police,’’ he said.
Despite Machen’s experience, Senior Constable and Youth Aid Officer Andrew Munro said contacting police was still vital.
‘‘Tokoroa Youth Aid section is currently dealing with one child who has come to our attention after a formal complaint was made for assault on another child,’’ he said.
Munro said while safety measures do need to be improved at the park, adult supervision was also important.