A 13-year-old boy has appeared in court charged with murder after a stabbing at a Dunedin bus stop. 

A 16-year-old boy died after the incident, which happened near the Dunedin police station. 

The accused appeared in the Dunedin Youth Court before Judge Michael Turner this morning. 

He has been remanded into the custody of the chief executive until an appearance before the High Court in Dunedin on June 11. 

He has automatic name suppression. 

The 16-year-old was attended to by ambulance staff and police after the incident around 3.30pm on Thursday. 

The incident occurred at the Dunedin bus hub, on Great King St in the centre city, where hundreds of school pupils were gathered for after-school transit. 

Police officers at the scene of the stabbing near the Dunedin police station. Photo / Ben Tomsett 

He was later transported to the hospital in a serious condition and died that evening, police confirmed in a statement shortly after 8pm. 

“This is an incredibly tragic situation for all involved and we are working to support the victim’s family, who are understandably distraught at the sudden and violent loss of their loved one,” Detective Senior Sergeant Kallum Croudis said. 

“We’re aware that people in the area around the bus hub on Great King Street may have photos or video footage of the incident.” 

The boy appeared in the Dunedin District Court on Friday morning. Photo / George Heard 

Police ask that anyone with photos or videos, along with anyone who witnessed the incident unfold, contact Dunedin Police via 105, quoting file number 240523/3321. 

At the time of the incident, a group of young people were at the scene speaking to police. Some were in tears. 

Police officers at a scene of an incident near the Duneidn Police station in which at least one person was injured New Zealand Herald photograph by Ben Tomsett 23 May 2024 

A witness told the Herald they saw a fight and was later told that someone had been stabbed. 

Groups of people were taken to the police station. Youths were heard speaking about a video of the incident circulating online. 

A spokesperson for Hato Hone St John said they were notified at 3.08pm on Thursday, responding with one ambulance and one manager. 

Police are still working to establish the circumstances leading into the incident but can confirm they have recovered a knife from the scene. 

Several enquiries are underway and a post-mortem is expected to be carried out today. 

Police said they are working, along with Victim Support to support the victim’s family at this extremely difficult time. 

Otago Regional Council Chair Gretchen Robertson said the Bus Hub is open and, aside from a diversion for Bus Stop B, it is safe for the public to continue bus use. 

“We acknowledge this is a serious incident and tragedy, and that it impacts people’s trust and confidence. We continue to urge people to have confidence in the safety of our bus system, however, acknowledge terrible incidents such as the loss of a young person does impact on people and we’ll work hard to address that,” she said. 

Robertson said they will be revisiting security requirements alongside Dunedin City Council and police. 

Otago Coastal Area Commander Inspector Marty Gray said they have further increased patrolling around Great King St area. 

Police have increased our foot and car patrols in the area focussing on peak times to ensure high visibility of police officers,” said Inspector Gray. 

“The incident yesterday was a tragedy, and our hearts go out to the victim and his family. 

Police have been aware of anti-social behaviour at the Bus Hub for some time and have been working closely with the Dunedin City Council, Otago Regional Council and other partners to address this issue,” Grey said. 

The case is now before the courts - Police said they are unable to make further comment. 

Conflict at the Dunedin bus hub 

The incident is the latest in a string of assaults at the Dunedin bus hub since it opened in 2019. 

In 2022, a Dunedin man was arrested after he attacked a pedestrian and punched an 83-year-old man in the face outside the central Dunedin Police Station. 

The 45-year-old pushed a 63-year-old man into the street of the Great King St bus hub on October 26, 2022, before straddling the victim and repeatedly punching him in the head, as well as inflicting kicks to the torso. 

When an 83-year-old bystander tried to intervene the offender punched him in the head as well. 

In November last year, a man was punched and kicked by a drunk in a racially motivated attack at the bus hub. 

Ben Tomsett is a Multimedia Journalist for the New Zealand Herald, based in Dunedin.