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There was an extra police presence in Snells Beach late last week after a seven-year-old student on his way to school was approached by a man and a woman in a white van.
The incident happened on Dawson Rd, last Wednesday just before 9am.
School principal Kathryn Ramel said the student was offered lollies and asked to get into the vehicle, which he refused to do and ran away.
She said the incident had been greeted with shock and surprise by staff, parents and the wider community.
“Snells Beach is a safe community – it’s a place where people look after our children,” Ramel said. “To my knowledge, nothing like this has happened here before.
“We are very proud of the student involved, who made a safe choice by saying ‘no’ and quickly moved ahead to join a family walking nearby. He was unharmed.”
Ramel said the incident demonstrated the benefits of the school’s regular ‘stranger danger’ talks. She said that without being alarmist, staff had since had a conversation with students about being vigilant.
“We want our kids to feel safe walking, or riding their scooters and bikes to school.”
Waitematā North Police Senior Sergeant Roger Small also commended the boy for “doing the right thing”. He said police were continuing to investigate the incident.
According to security footage, the van was, or resembled, a Hiace ZX model.
