A man who was “loved by the community” has died and another is seriously injured after two stabbings on an Auckland bus.
Police said the stabbings, which are being treated as separate but connected, happened on Auckland Transport’s number 76 bus as it travelled from Glen Innes towards Ōrakei last night.
Police have established the offender entered the bus at 7.53pm on Apirana Ave.
“The first victim boarded the bus at 7.56pm and travelled a short distance before moving to exit the bus at 7.58pm,” Auckland City Detective Inspector Glenn Baldwin said.
A Glen Innes block of shops is under a cordon after a stabbing overnight.
“The only other passenger aboard initiated an attack on the victim, before he could exit the bus near Fenchurch St in Glen Innes.”
The victim, a man in his 50s, suffered a fatal knife wound.
“An ambulance ...transported the man to hospital where he has later died from those injuries,” Baldwin said.
A cordon remains in place at the intersection, and a scene guard remained overnight.
A small pool of blood is visible at the scene beside a stack of pallets.
Baldwin said the bus continued on, where the second victim boarded around 8.09pm.
A bus has been seized as part of inquiries. Photo / Hayden Woodward
“A man aged in his 40s sat at the back of the bus where the offender moved towards him,” he said.
“The second unprovoked assault began when the offender approached the victim at the rear of the bus.
“The offender initiated a fight and quickly produced a knife and assaulted the victim.
“After a short confrontation the second victim managed to flee from the bus, along with another passenger and the bus driver near the bus stop at Coates Ave and Kepa Rd.”
The offender got off the bus around this time and was last seen fleeing on foot.
The second victim was transported to Auckland City Hospital with serious injuries, where he remains in a stable condition.
A bus has been seized on Nehu St, Ōrākei, as part of inquiries into a stabbing near the scene of the second assault.
Baldwin said police have worked through the night to find the offender, with the bus secured and two scene examinations underway.
Detectives are being supported by the Armed Offenders Squad as they continue their search.
“I’m appalled at the unprovoked violence used by this offender against two men who have done absolutely nothing wrong, and one has tragically and needlessly lost his life,” Baldwin said.
“Our investigation is still in its infancy, but we are committed to understanding the motive and exactly why such violence took place aboard a bus last night.
“I know this horrific event will leave the community unsettled, but please be assured that our investigation team is doing all we can to locate this man.”
Police are urging people with information to come forward, and have asked them to use the reference number 251208/7471 or Operation Gyle when doing so.
A local, who wished to be anonymous, said the man who died was stabbed on the bus as it pulled up outside the Fenchurch shops. He said the wounded man got off the bus and sat down outside the store on a set of blue pallets.
In a video the victim could be seen calmly walking, clutching his chest before he sits and a woman rushes over to him and starts to rally people to help. A man rushes over with towels to try and stem the blood.
The local said the man was known and loved by the community.
“It’s really sad. People are really, really sad.”
He said the victim was not one to start fights with people and was shocked he could be the victim of such a violent act.
He also said he did not want the community to get a bad rap from people, especially after the violence in past days from around the area.
“These a good people who live around here, families. This isn’t us.”
An AT spokesperson said they were assisting police and also working with their bus operator to provide support to the driver.
“We are very saddened to hear about these incidents, and our thoughts are with the victims, their families and our bus operator who was present.
“Our buses all have CCTV cameras onboard, and we are working closely with police.”
A witness said this morning that a male had slumped on pallets outside the shops, with what appeared to be stab wounds, after the first attack.
The witness told NZME that the offenders got on a bus and left the scene.
Ward Councillor for Maungakiekie Tāmaki Josephine Bartley said she understood there had been two stabbings, one in Ōrākei and one in Glen Innes.
“I understand the person stabbed in Glen Innes went to the Fenchurch shops for help and has since died. The other victim is recovering.
“I have also contacted the police area commander for information to help settle our community, as many will be worried ... we need this offender caught asap.”
Police have launched an investigation at the intersection of Taniwha Street and Fenchurch Street in Glen Innes after a man was fatally stabbed. 08 December 2025. New Zealand Herald photograph by Hayden Woodward.
She urged anyone with information to contact the police.
Hato Hone St John said two ambulances, one critical care unit and one operations manager were sent to the scene at the intersection of Taniwha St and Fenchurch St in Glen Innes, where the first assault occurred.
“We treated someone in a critical condition,” a St John spokesperson said.
Recent public violence in Auckland
The bus attacks come after two violent incidents in Auckland in just four days.
On Friday afternoon in the neighbouring suburb of Mt Wellington, a man was stabbed in broad daylight.
The man arrived at a medical centre on Lunn Ave on December 5 after allegedly being stabbed on Harris Rd that afternoon.
He was transported to Auckland City Hospital where he later died from his injuries.
Two men have been arrested after a homicide investigation was launched.
Further south in Papakura, a man is facing a serious violence charge after a shooting critically injured another person.
Counties Manukau South Detective Senior Sergeant Simon Taylor said an investigation was launched in the early hours of Saturday morning after the shooting in Maadi Place.
Taylor said this morning they had arrested and charged a 20-year-old man with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
Taylor said the police believed the victim and the 20-year-old accused were known to each other.
Police have launched an investigation at the intersection of Taniwha Street and Fenchurch Street in Glen Innes after a man was fatally stabbed. 08 December 2025. New Zealand Herald photograph by Hayden Woodward.
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