Police have arrested and charged a woman in relation to a recent assault on a teenage schoolboy on a bus travelling through Pakuranga.
Acting Detective Senior Sergeant James Mapp, of Counties Manukau East Police criminal investigation branch, says: “Police have this morning located and arrested a woman in relation to an assault on a bus in Pakuranga last month.
“A 39-year-old woman will appear in the Manukau District Court tomorrow charged with wounding with intent to wound.
“Police executed a search warrant at a property in Pakuranga this morning, following the alleged assault which occurred on a bus travelling from Howick toward Auckland City along Pakuranga Road on Friday, June 28, which left one person with serious injuries.
“Police will allege this was a hate-motivated crime.
“As the matter is now before the court, police are limited in providing further comment.”
Photos posted online of the teenage schoolboy who was assaulted show blood around his mouth.
Three of his teeth were knocked out in the attack and he suffered a large wound to his face.
News media previously reported the offender yelled racial slurs at the boy, who is a Chinese New Zealander, before striking him.
The woman boarded the bus at a bus stop on Pakuranga Road, by the intersection with Johns Lane, and left the bus after it stopped on the busway near Williams Avenue.
Police publicly released CCTV images of a person of interest in the case and asked people who knew her identity or had information on the assault to come forward.
