Stabbed boy awake

A BOY stabbed at a South Auckland school last month is out of a coma and ‘‘improving every day’’, his family says.

A classroom argument at Mangere Bridge’s Pacific Christian School on June 24 left one boy with critical stab wounds to the head. He was in a coma at Starship children’s hospital but has improved to a stable condition and has been moved to a ward, a DHB spokeswoman said.

Tongan Advisory Council chairman Melino Maka visited the boy last week and said the family were ‘‘doing it tough’’ but were buoyed by his ongoing recovery. ‘‘They’re quite happy with his progress. He’s improving every day,’’ he said, adding the important thing was for the community to keep assisting the families of both boys. ‘‘Not only the boy in hospital but the other boy and his family . . . The challenge is seeing what sort of support we can get for the families.’’

The 11-year-old classmate accused of the stabbing remains in the care of Child, Youth and Family, a police spokeswoman said. No charges have been laid over the incident and the spokeswoman emphasised the only charges an 11-year-old could face were manslaughter and murder.

Members of the Mangere community, including singers, performers and local MPs, will meet next week for a Peace Festival.

Mangere social worker James Papali’i said the festival was organised in response to the incident, and an unrelated stabbing that happened on the same day at nearby Southern Cross Campus.