Teen pleads guilty to charges relating to serious assault in Edgecumbe

Two young people have been arrested fleeing police on Wednesday night with one of them also charged in relation to a serious assault in Edgecumbe last Friday.

Police said they spotted a vehicle of interest at about 11.45pm and its occupants who were wearing balaclavas allegedly swerved towards the police cars.

Spikes deployed by police stopped the vehicle on State Highway 20 near Te Teko and the offenders fled on foot but were caught soon after by officers with the Police Dog Unit.

Police said further enquiries determined one of the pair was also responsible for a serious assault involving a hammer at the Plains Hotel in Edgecumbe on Friday 23 October 2026.

A 17-year-old is facing three charges including wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, assault with a weapon and unlawfully getting into a motor vehicle. On Thursday he pleaded guilty to all charges and has been remanded on bail for sentencing in the Whakatāne District Court.

A 16-year-old has been referred to the youth justice process and faces possession of an offensive weapon and unlawfully getting into a motor vehicle charges.