Updated 8:41am: Police say a fatal stabbing should never have happened, and has left the families of two teenagers devastated.

Seventeen-year-old Aucklander Luke Tipene died in Grey Lynn early yesterday morning.

A 16-year-old boy has been charged with murder, and is due in court tomorrow.

A promising rugby league player, Luke Tipene died after being stabbed in the neck when a fight broke out.

He hadn't been at a nearby party, but at the night markets in the city, and had arrived to pick up a friend.

It's another loss to Luke's family, after his father Christopher Tipene died at the age of 33 in November 2002.

The family, who are heavily involved in the Auckland league community, are reportedly devastated by the loss.

Detective Inspector Scott Beard says it's a tragedy that a young man has lost his life, during an incident which really should not have happened.

Police are appealing for any witnesses they haven't yet spoken to, to come forward.

Teen charged with murder 

A 16-year-old boy will appear in court tomorrow charged with murder, over the death of a teenage rugby league player.

Luke Tipene died after being stabbed when a fight broke out at Grey Lynn in Auckland early yesterday.

The seventeen-year-old had not been at a nearby party before the fight - he was picking up a friend.

While the details aren't yet clear, it's believed Luke Tipene may have been trying to help a friend involved the brawl when he was stabbed.