
Plaque laid in memory of student
The plaque in memory of Enere McLaren-Taana at Trinity Catholic College. PHOTO: PETER MCINTOSH
A Dunedin secondary school has honoured a former student with a memorial plaque a year after he was tragically killed in a stabbing at the bus hub.
Trinity Catholic College hosted a liturgy led by college chaplain Fr Vaughan Hook for Enere McLaren-Taana on Thursday.
Staff and students were joined by Enere's family and his peers from his former school, King's High School.
Trinity principal Kate Nicholson said about 100 people took part in a time of reflection remembering Enere's life.
"It has been such a hard year for Enere's whānau and those who cared for him, and the grief is still very real.
"Providing this opportunity to bring everyone together to share this anniversary was truly a privilege to be part of."
A plaque was unveiled and blessed followed by haka by Trinity and King's students.
Ms Nicholson said the liturgy concluded with Trinity students singing I say to you with love in tribute to Enere — the same song that was sung at Otago Polyfest for him last year.
The 14-year-old found guilty of manslaughter after the fatal stabbing will be sentenced in July.
mark.john@odt.co.nz
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Otago Daily Times
4 days ago
- Otago Daily Times
'Significant' bus hub disorder included BB gun
Security guards recorded an average of one "significant" incident every 10 days after taking over at Dunedin's bus hub in the wake of last year's fatal stabbing, official information shows. However, police said the busy city centre transport link was safer now than it used to be. A multi-agency group formed in the aftermath of the fatal stabbing of 16-year-old Enere McLaren-Taana in May last year — chaired by Otago coastal prevention manager Inspector Sam Ramsay — "finalised a delivery roadmap" for change in February. Insp Ramsay said keys to that roadmap included initiatives to "transform the bus hub environment and operations" and enhance security and patrolling. The quality of security patrols at the Great King St bus hub was dragged into the spotlight in the wake of the fatal stabbing. Before being replaced by First Security, the previous firm, Allied Security, reported guards patrolling the bus hub were spat on, kicked and harassed after the incident. Now, First Security weekly incident reports released by the Otago Regional Council under the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act show antisocial behaviour persists — including intoxication and smoking and vaping in smoke free zones. But those types of incidents vastly outnumbered the "aggressive behaviour" observed by patrols. Among the incidents detailed in the report was a "young lady" on February 27 observed with what was at first thought to be a gun, but was later identified as a BB gun. The "young lady" reportedly "slipped it under her leg", but it was "clear it was not a phone", the incident report said. Police were advised and asked the security guards to keep an eye on her while they arranged backup. The BB gun was discharged "several times in a non-threatening direction, off to one side and towards a small wall", the report said. Seven police officers attended and took control of the BB gun, resulting in "little impact on the general public". The reports do not indicate which incidents are categorised as significant, but identified 13 such incidents from November 14 to April 6 (the period covered by the official information provided), The reports showed 11 times over that period those incidents were reported to police, but police were only called six times this year. December led the way with police assistance required four times. Police came under the spotlight after the fatal stabbing, in part because the teenager was stabbed about 50m from the Dunedin central police station. Now, when asked if the bus hub was safer than at the time of the stabbing, Insp Ramsay referenced the multi-agency Central City Safety Advisory group and said "police have been working with our partners to make the bus hub safer". He said, in February, the group finalised its roadmap that "prioritised and planned" short, medium and long-term actions to improve safety in and around the bus hub area while also considering the wider context of safety in the city. Four key areas were identified during the workshop which would form the basis of initiatives hoped to have an impact. "They are: cultivate positive values and culture; transform the bus hub environment and operations; enhance safety, security and patrolling; empower youth through reporting and education." He said police now had a sergeant and four fulltime constables undertaking foot patrols on early and late shifts. At times, that number increased as part of probationary training or induction. "We deploy the teams based on evidence and demand, and they could cover any area of Dunedin."


Otago Daily Times
4 days ago
- Otago Daily Times
Antisocial behaviour still persisting at hub
Security guards recorded an average of one "significant" incident every 10 days after taking over at Dunedin's bus hub in the wake of last year's fatal stabbing, official information shows. However, police said the busy city centre transport link was safer now than it used to be. A multi-agency group formed in the aftermath of the fatal stabbing of 16-year-old Enere McLaren-Taana in May last year — chaired by Otago coastal prevention manager Inspector Sam Ramsay — "finalised a delivery roadmap" for change in February. Insp Ramsay said keys to that roadmap included initiatives to "transform the bus hub environment and operations" and enhance security and patrolling. The quality of security patrols at the Great King St bus hub was dragged into the spotlight in the wake of the fatal stabbing. Before being replaced by First Security, the previous firm, Allied Security, reported guards patrolling the bus hub were spat on, kicked and harassed after the incident. Now, First Security weekly incident reports released by the Otago Regional Council under the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act show antisocial behaviour persists — including intoxication and smoking and vaping in smoke free zones. But those types of incidents vastly outnumbered the "aggressive behaviour" observed by patrols. Among the incidents detailed in the report was a "young lady" on February 27 observed with what was at first thought to be a gun, but was later identified as a BB gun. The "young lady" reportedly "slipped it under her leg", but it was "clear it was not a phone", the incident report said. Police were advised and asked the security guards to keep an eye on her while they arranged backup. The BB gun was discharged "several times in a non-threatening direction, off to one side and towards a small wall", the report said. Seven police officers attended and took control of the BB gun, resulting in "little impact on the general public". The reports do not indicate which incidents are categorised as significant, but identified 13 such incidents from November 14 to April 6 (the period covered by the official information provided), The reports showed 11 times over that period those incidents were reported to police, but police were only called six times this year. December led the way with police assistance required four times. Police came under the spotlight after the fatal stabbing, in part because the teenager was stabbed about 50m from the Dunedin central police station. Now, when asked if the bus hub was safer than at the time of the stabbing, Insp Ramsay referenced the multi-agency Central City Safety Advisory group and said "police have been working with our partners to make the bus hub safer". He said, in February, the group finalised its roadmap that "prioritised and planned" short, medium and long-term actions to improve safety in and around the bus hub area while also considering the wider context of safety in the city. Four key areas were identified during the workshop which would form the basis of initiatives hoped to have an impact. "They are: cultivate positive values and culture; transform the bus hub environment and operations; enhance safety, security and patrolling; empower youth through reporting and education." He said police now had a sergeant and four fulltime constables undertaking foot patrols on early and late shifts. At times, that number increased as part of probationary training or induction. "We deploy the teams based on evidence and demand, and they could cover any area of Dunedin."


Otago Daily Times
04-06-2025
- Otago Daily Times
The lessons waiting to be learned
One of the cliches of tragedy is the hope that some good will come from it. There is no doubt that the fatal stabbing of 16-year-old schoolboy Enere Taana-McLaren at the Dunedin bus hub last year was a tragedy — for all concerned. A report to be considered by the Otago Regional Council today offers a glimmer of hope that, indeed, something good may come from this sad affair. The council commissioned an independent report, on behalf of the Dunedin Central City Safety Advisory Group, into cities both in New Zealand and abroad that have dealt with disorder issues similar to those which have plagued the bus hub. While it makes no recommendations and councillors need not frame any resolutions based upon it, it sets out a sensible framework for future action. Although Enere's death serves to make such analysis redundant, the report confirms — both through anecdotal accounts of bus hub users and examination of reported crime data — that there is indeed a problem in the area, and that many people feel unsafe in the vicinity. From that starting point the researchers cast their nets far and wide to see how places like Rotorua, Auckland, Wellington, Sydney, Adelaide and Bath have managed safety at their transport hubs and gathering spots. A key finding is that safety measures must not only be done, but that they be clearly seen to have been done. People feel safer if they see obvious moves to protect them in plain sight, be that prominent signage or regular well-trained patrols. Dunedin police have established a beat team to increase foot patrols in the city centre. This is encouraging, but cynicism — whether justifiable or not — remains about other security staff at the bus hub. Restoring faith that people will be around to help if needs be is paramount. The example of Tauranga, which has involved its young people on ways to enhance perceptions of safety in city spaces, will be instructive. CCTV also has its place, but it needs to be in conjunction with a review of the urban design of the bus hub. The report notes that in Wellington's Te Aro Park surveillance cameras were ineffective as the landscape meant there were several known black spots which could not be seen remotely. One universal theme in the other city's safety plans is that this is no one department or agency's problem and that many people will need to work together to effect change. Establishment of the safety advisory group should therefore be seen as a wise move; the ball is now in its court as bus hub users — many of whom are young and/or vulnerable — wait for effective action. The one thing Dunedin cannot have happen is what some of the city's school principals already fear is occurring — that the problems of the bus hub are simply being moved elsewhere in the city. As reported by the Otago Daily Times yesterday, Otago Girls' High School principal Bridget Davidson's submission to the ORC's Draft Regional Public Transport Plan said bus stops elsewhere in the city were now becoming overcrowded and dangerous. Trinity Catholic College principal Kate Nicholson agreed, saying that pupils had told her they were still using the bus service but from other city stops rather than the bus hub. While it is pleasing that reports of incidents at the bus hub are down, that may simply be as a result of the phenomenon that the principals and pupils have recognised — of patrons, and therefore possible trouble, moving on to fresh fields. The report considers this too, noting that when this has occurred in other cities safety teams have been quickly sent to the new trouble spot to provide reassurance. That does run the risk of wardens playing whack-a-mole with trouble-makers, but it is far better to be pro-active than reactive. As the report notes, transport hubs have become hotspots for anti-social behaviour in most areas. As a natural meeting point, they have become high-risk areas for many young people who need to wait for connecting buses. Dunedin is not alone in confronting this, but the city now has many examples from elsewhere of how these issues can be confronted. Lessons are there to be learned so that, indeed, some good may spring from the ghastly events of last year.