Nicholson and Dunedin Student Council president Rohan O'Shea led the survey of 1300 Dunedin secondary students after schoolboy Enere McLaren-Taana's fatal stabbing earlier this year.

It aimed to see how teenagers felt about their safety in the inner city.

All but one Dunedin secondary school participated and the findings were shared with each principal. Each school may decide what to do with the findings, Nicholson says.

The survey results were also included in a Central City Safety Advisory Group report for their action.

Set up after McLaren-Taana's death, the Group members represent a cross-section of city, school, student and community leaders.

Scared and harassed

Of the 22 percent of students who answered the survey, 45 percent said they did not feel safe in the inner city. Many have to be in town to get to and from school.

The figures were significantly worse for girls: 55 percent said they did not feel safe; fewer than five percent said they do feel safe.

Cat-calling and verbal harassment were commonly cited and significant threats of assault, advances and harassment were reported.

The survey included space for long-form answers. Testimonies from teenage girls spoke of sexual assaults and harassment at the bus hub and in the inner city.

Many commented that drug and alcohol use in the area was a significant problem.

Many also said they felt angry, abandoned and did not believe anyone cared.

Police engagement

The survey found that threatening behaviour, sexual assault and harassment towards young women is largely unreported to police, says Police Otago Coastal area prevention manager Sam Ramsay.

"We know it can be incredibly hard and at times distressing ... but we would like to reassure any victims of sexual offending we have a dedicated team of officers and detectives who focus on this area."

Police take any report of sexual harassment or violence seriously, he stresses.

Since McLaren-Taana's death police have developed a more visible presence especially around the bus hub, in addition to their established inner-city team.

Part of that work involves strongly encouraging people to report violent incidents and threats to police.

Where to from here

Anyone who has been made to feel uncomfortable in a situation with others should report it or discuss it with someone they trust who can offer help, says Nicholson.

She understands reliving experiences and talking to the police can be difficult.

"It's always going to be difficult, but there are other ways for them to speak out, such as to school counsellors, to deans or to a trusted teacher."

Listening to students important

Nicholson is impressed with the 22 percent student response rate to the survey.

"But more opportunities to listen to student opinion are needed.

"I think it also indicates that maybe we don't ask our young people enough about what their opinions and views on things are.

"It's very easy for adults to surmise or assume positions of students.

"It's just a good reminder to us to listen and give ... them a forum to speak openly where there's no judgement."

Source

• ODT
• ODT

Agencies offering information and help include:

• NZ Police - Dial 111
• Victim Support
• Safe to Talk
• Rape Prevention Education
• Te Ohaakii a Hine - National Network Ending Sexual Violence Together

Enere, 16, a pupil at Trinity Catholic College, died after being stabbed at the Dunedin bus hub on May 23.

About a week later, the Dunedin City Council scheduled a public vigil for Enere to be held in the Octagon.

On the morning of the vigil, the council updated its social media posts to clarify that Enere's whanau would "not be present or speaking at the vigil" as previously stated and apologised for any misunderstanding.

But later in the afternoon, hours before the vigil was scheduled to begin, the council cancelled the vigil entirely.

The council initially declined to answer detailed questions about the vigil.

But the reasons why it was cancelled at the last minute are made clear in emails released to the Otago Daily Times under the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act

The emails show Cr Marie Laufiso was tasked with liaising with Enere's whanau, but on the day of the event she acknowledged she had "stuffed up" by not meeting Enere's parents directly. Source

https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/councillor-sorry-vigil-%E2%80%98stuff-%E2%80%99

Sixteen-year-old McLaren-Taana was attacked and stabbed outside the Dunedin bus hub (pictured) on Thursday last week. He was rushed to hospital but later died.

A 13-year-old was charged with murder when he appeared in the Youth Court on Friday last week. He was granted name suppression.

Online naming

Reports that the alleged murderer's name is appearing online prompted Nicholson to issue a reminder to the wider Trinity Catholic College school community.

She said the court had suppressed the accused's name. There are legal consequences for ignoring court directives such as this.

Under the Criminal Procedure Act, any persons who "knowingly or recklessly" publish any name in breach of a suppression order could find themselves in trouble.

They could face a maximum penalty of six months imprisonment or a fine of up to $25,000.

Nicholson is therefore taking the opportunity to educate the school community about the legal system and what a suppression order means.

Dangerous mix

Nicholson says high emotions and social media are a "dangerous" mix in scenarios like this.

She notes the role of social media, which can sometimes be the first source of truth for young people today.

"It's really important that they understand we've got a legal system in New Zealand that is trusted to make the right decision, and law is put in place to protect everybody.

"Name suppression is one example of that, and that needs to be respected."

Democracy and the courts

In democratic society where freedom of speech is a factor, managing situations where information is being suppressed presents difficulties.

This is particularly so in cases when witnesses may be connected with the victim and the alleged murderer. This is the situation for some witnesses present at McLaren-Taana's death.

"It's not unusual considering the number of witnesses that were present [at the attack] and Dunedin is a fairly connected place" Nicholson says.

That's why it is important that the school community has "some transparency and some learning" as to why the court's name suppression orders must be kept she says.

Everyone must respect the court's ruling.

Source

• RNZ

The assault followed "an altercation between the victim and offender" at a city bus hub.

Police recovered a knife from the scene.

Loss and sorrow

Many people are hurting. Prayers have been said. Support offered.

Manawhenua held a blessing at the hub on Friday. Many attended with flowers and tributes.

Trinity Catholic College principal Kate Nicholson says the school's hearts "go out to McLaren-Taana's whanau who are going through this terrible loss".

She spoke of the school's devastating sorrow. McLaren-Taana was so young, full of energy and promise.

"We are a strong, united school community and we will wrap our love, care and support around those in our college who need it at this time."

McLaren-Taana was also a former King's High School pupil. Like Trinity Catholic College, the school community met his death with shock, sadness and devastation.

The popular sportsman's teammates called off their high school rugby game on Saturday in his memory.

Dunedin's mayor called for a "community-wide" response.

Jules Radich says he wants key parties - police, schools, the council and bus operators to work together on a "wider community response" to safety at the hub and the public transport network.

Murder charge

McLaren-Taana's alleged killer is only 13. He's has appeared in the Youth Court, charged with murder.

The judge remanded him until June 11 to appear in the High Court for bail proceedings.

Police won't say if he and McLaren-Taana knew each other.

Investigators are still trying to determine what led to the attack, says Otago Coastal Area Commander Inspector Marty Gray.

Violence normal

McLaren-Taana's murder occurred about 50 metres from the Dunedin Central Police Station.

An unnamed pupil told reporters that violence at the bus hub after school is a normal occurrence. He says he recently witnessed a pre-arranged fight at the hub.

"It's not the best place to be. There's always people threatening each other and fighting each other."

There is rising concern about violence in the area. Dunedin Student Council presidents Rohan O'Shea and Alice Johnston commented - "The safety of the bus hub has long been an issue we have raised with NZ Police and local government, without substantive measures taken - we need action now" they say.

Gray is aware antisocial behaviour is an issue at the bus hub. "And our staff have been working closely with Dunedin City Council, Otago Regional Council, the Education Department, iwi and other partners to suppress some of that activity."

He said extra CCTV cameras have been installed in the area.

Source

• NewsHub
• ODT
• Star News
• RNZ
• ODT
• NZ Herald