Toran Henry, a 17-year-old Takapuna Grammar pupil was found dead at his North Shore home 11 days ago.
He was being treated for depression at the Waitemata District Health Board's mental health unit for adolescents.
His death came a day after he was badly beaten at Takapuna Grammar, a beating reportedly watched by 15 pupils.
The beating was recorded on a mobile phone video and watched afterwards by dozens of other pupils at the school, The Herald on Sunday reported.
The death was not believed to be suspicious but North Shore police commander Inspector Les Paterson said in a brief statement yesterday police were investigating.
He said information the police could release was limited by the Coroner's Act, but he understood there was public concern over Toran's death.
‘‘I assure the North Shore community that I will be keeping an eye on developments,'' he said.
‘‘I have assigned a small team of very experienced investigators to the case.''
Toran's mother Maria Bradshaw said she believed staff had bullied her son or unfairly punished him for lateness, which she said was caused by the effects of his medication.
She claimed Takapuna Grammar had taken little action over the assault other than to ask students to wipe the video from their phones.
‘‘Knowing that he was a young man with depression, I would have thought that any responsible adult would have called that child's mother, if not the police, given that assault is a criminal act,'' she told Newstalk ZB.
Takapuna Grammar principal Simon Lamb said the school would investigate claims that the boy was bullied or mistreated by staff.
He said the appointment of an independent commissioner could be the best way to investigate the claims.
Actor Temuera Morrison said Toran was best friends with his 16-year-old son James. He said Toran helped him practise his lines for his appearance in the television soap Shortland Street.
‘‘I didn't have any idea as to the problems he was having,'' Morrison told the Sunday News.
‘‘It seems as though . . . responses he needed at the time were not provided to him. I would definitely support an inquiry into this.''
Sharlene Pirikahu, a neighbour of Ms Bradshaw's, was upset at the school's handling of Toran.
She told The Herald on Sunday her son, Peter, had also complained about being bullied at the school, but Ms Pirikahu said teachers had told him it was all in his head and she eventually removed her son from the school.
The incident comes a month after it was announced the Education Review Office (ERO) would carry out a special safety review of Hutt Valley High School, following allegations including a sex assault on a pupil, drug-taking, bullying, and intimidation of teachers.
A year 9 male pupil alleged he had his pants pulled down and was assaulted with a sharp object by six other year 9 boys at the school on December 6 last year.
Five pupils were referred to the Family Court and one other to the Lower Hutt Youth Court.
Education Minister Chris Carter asked the ministry for an urgent report following further allegations - of school-yard sex, drinking and drug-taking at the Lower Hutt school.
It was reported at the time that a third of all students at Hutt Valley High School had been bullied, while half the school's teachers had also complained of being bullied, intimidated or harassed.
Mr Carter later said in a statement that he strongly supported the bullying investigation.
‘‘The best thing that Takapuna Grammar can do now is investigate . . . and seek assistance to ensure the culture of the school is a positive one for all students.''
