• Police are searching for a man after a serious assault on Settlement Rd in South Auckland.
• The victim was taken to Middlemore Hospital with serious but not life-threatening injuries.
• Nearby schools were in lockdown as police conducted inquiries; the suspect remains at large.

Schools are out of lockdown but a manhunt continues after a victim was seriously injured on a South Auckland street earlier today.

Police said emergency services were called after a person was injured on Settlement Rd.

Detective Senior Sergeant Michele Gillespie said the victim suffered serious but not life-threatening injuries and was transported to Middlemore Hospital.

“The offender has fled on foot across Settlement Rd and was last seen near an address,” she said.

Nearby schools were placed into a precautionary lockdown with the offender still outstanding, police said.

“Cordons were put in place while our staff carried out enquiries in the area to locate this male,” Gillespie said.

The cordons have now been lifted, and the schools were taken out of lockdown this afternoon.

Auckland metro area shift commander Inspector Kerry Watson said the victim “has since gone to hospital. We believe that he may be alright, but we’re looking for a person that we believe may have inflicted these injuries.

“We know that this person ran off immediately after the incident and he has disappeared on Settlement Rd near to the intersection with Laurie Rd.

”We have concerns for the behaviour of this male. As a result of that, we’ve flooded the area with staff and there will be a big presence of staff in this area until school finishes today and when the school kids head home."

Watson said police were confident children would be safe to head home after school today with the large presence.

He said the person, who was believed to be a male, appeared to be dressed in black with a long-sleeved hoodie. He may have also had a light-coloured backpack on.

Watson said the alleged offender was of a “reasonably young age”.

He couldn’t say what the motivation of the alleged attack was at this stage.

A police photographer at the scene of an attack on Settlement Rd, Papakura. Photo / Dean Purcell

He stated that the incident was “completely unrelated” to the school.

“We’d ask that anyone who thinks they may know the identity of this offender or may have information that could lead us to the identity, to phone us as soon as possible.”

Earlier, police said they were on the scene and, at this stage, one person will be transferred to a hospital in a moderate condition.

The attack was not on school grounds, and the lockdowns were precautionary while police conducted inquiries.

“An increased police presence will remain in the area while we work to locate the person responsible.”

Hato Hone St John said it was notified of an “assault” in Papakura at 11.38am today.

“One ambulance and one operations manager attended.

“One patient, in a serious condition, is being transported to Middlemore Hospital.”

Police investigate on Settlement Rd after a person was seriously injured in an attack. Photo / Dean Purcell

A worker nearby said police were swarming Settlement Rd near Papakura High School and Intermediate School.

A security guard was stationed at the gate of Papakura High this afternoon.

Social media users reported seeing the police helicopter over the schools’ neighbouring sites, as well as ambulances and police cars on Settlement Rd.

Students are outside playing in the grounds of Papakura High School after cordons lifted. A police officer can be seen kicking a ball around with some of the students.