Pupils say racial sensitivity could have been the catalyst for yesterday's stabbing of a West Auckland high school teacher.
Avondale College was in lockdown for most of yesterday, after Japanese language teacher Dave Warren was wounded by a pupil about 11.40am.
His alleged attacker, a 17-year-old Korean, was to appear in the Auckland District Court today charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
The pupil was arrested in Blockhouse Bay about an hour after the attack.
Pupils said Mr Warren's attacker was a Korean national, who principal Brent Lewis said had been at the school for "three or four weeks".
One pupil, who did not want to be named, said an incident had taken place at the school on Monday.
"Yesterday, some kids in that class said [the teacher] must've said a joke about South Korea, and that guy's from South Korea."
The 20-pupil class was studying NCEA level two and three Japanese.
Mr Warren (49) was stabbed just below his right shoulder while writing on a whiteboard, standing with his back to the class.
Police and ambulance services arrived shortly after, and Mr Warren was taken to Auckland Hospital in a serious condition.
Mr Lewis said he knew nothing of claims a racial remark had triggered the attack.
However, one teacher said staff were told "an incident" had occurred between Mr Warren and his alleged attacker in class on Monday.
Mr Warren was still in Auckland hospital last night.
Prime Minister John Key, who met Korean President Lee Myung-Bak yesterday, said he was shocked by the stabbing.
"This is alarming . . . but we need to understand whether it's an isolated incident out of left field or whether something more serious is going on."
School violence will be discussed at a summit in Wellington on March 16 and 17.
