Napier teenager homicide case

The story so far

A 15-year-old boy died early on a Sunday morning in May 2025 after a violent disorder in Onekawa, Napier, and police launched a homicide investigation.^{13, 14 May 2025} He was fatally stabbed on Alexander Avenue, and another teenager was injured, but no arrests had been made in the first days of the investigation.^{14 May 2025} At the boy's funeral, police denied rumours that he or his family had gang affiliations, describing such speculation as damaging and unhelpful.^{17 May 2025} His mother and father appealed for information about the killing, which police had not yet solved in late May.^{23 May 2025; 10 Jun 2025} In June, a teenage girl was charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice for allegedly threatening a witness, and a 21-year-old woman was charged with allegedly instructing another person to destroy evidence.^{17, 19 Jun 2025}

Latest

A teenage girl has also been charged in relation to the case.^{19 Jun 2025}

What's next

The teenage girl charged with perverting the course of justice is scheduled to appear in the Hastings Youth Court.^{17 Jun 2025}

Key moments

1. 13 May 2025Police launch a homicide investigation after the 15-year-old's death in Onekawa.
2. 14 May 2025Death confirmed as a stabbing on Alexander Avenue; no arrests made yet.
3. 17 May 2025Funeral held; police deny gang-related rumours about the boy's family.
4. 23 May 2025Mother appeals for anyone with information to come forward.
5. 10 Jun 2025Parents renew appeal; stabbing described as occurring at a birthday party.
6. 17 Jun 2025Teenage girl charged with perverting the course of justice over alleged witness threat.
7. 19 Jun 202521-year-old woman charged over alleged instruction to destroy evidence.

Written from the stories below; each sentence links to its sources.