Teens, passengers, and driver allegedly involved in mass Wellington bus brawl

The driver involved in an alleged mass brawl on a Wellington bus has issued his statement about the chaos that ensued after “15 children” boarded in Lower Hutt.

It was reported on Sunday that several people were injured and six people taken into custody following the alleged incident on Friday afternoon at Seaview Rd, Lower Hutt.

A 19-year-old was taken into custody and appeared in Lower Hutt District Court on Saturday. She will reappear on January 26th. Five others were referred to youth services.

Streetcar Secretary Kevin O’Sullivan said he had now seen the driver’s statement following the incident.

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Fifteen kids had boarded the bus in Queensgate, in central Lower Hutt, and “started making trouble, making music, screaming and moving on,” O’Sullivan said.

“From the sound of it, one of the passengers must have taken offense…it was a woman.”

It was alleged that a fight broke out between the teenagers – most aged 13 or 14 – who “attacked” the woman. Other passengers and the driver interfered.

“There was an all-in fight,” O’Sullivan said.

Passengers called the police. The slightly injured driver was currently unable to work but is expected to return in the coming days.

Metlink has been contacted for comment. Police have been asked to clarify what was allegedly stolen in what they described as aggravated robbery.

Hutt Mayor Campbell Barry understood that the incident occurred on the number 83 bus bound for Eastbourne.

The bus stop where they would have boarded was on Bunny Street, just down the road from the scene where two teenage girls were attacked in November. The attack was filmed by onlookers.

This bus stop – which serves buses to Wainuiomata – was deemed a problem area for antisocial behavior and was removed in late 2022.

Metlink said in 2022 that “old-fashioned, poorly designed single-entry shelters” posed a risk of entrapment, masked criminal activity and blocked CCTV lines.