Kerre Woodham Mornings Podcast Kerre McIvor: Another senseless loss of a young life
Aug 16, 2021
08:05
Another weekend, another senseless loss of a young life.
Zion Purukamu, 16, died at Christchurch Hospital after being stabbed at a 17th birthday party.
Two teenagers aged 14 and 17 were also stabbed at the Fendalton property remain in a serious but stable condition in hospital.
It's understood that an Airbnb had been rented for the party, and trouble started when gate crashers turned up and were turned away.
The property had been rented through Airbnb, listed by Christchurch Holiday Homes, which makes you wonder if enough checks and balances are done on who's renting properties on the books.
One of the company’s directors, Susan Harrison, believed the guest who booked it had a legitimate account, which meant they were over 18.
Police have spoken to the Airbnb renter.
The property’s rules include not having guests after 10pm.
Harrison yesterday said they thought it was strange the booking was for two people in a large house, but a staffer had passed the property earlier in the evening and not noticed anything untoward.
The mother of a girl who attended the party said it was a girl's birthday party and the house had been rented for that purpose when uninvited guests showed up, some of whom were kicked out.
It brings back very raw memories of when a couple of young teenagers were stabbed in our neighbourhood when my daughter was a teenager.
She was desperate to host a party for her best friend when my then husband and I were going away for the weekend, and we were adamant it wouldn't happen.
Not because we didn't trust her - it was just there had been ample tragic evidence that things could get out of hand through no fault of their own.
There was much flouncing and huffing on both sides and in the end we compromised on hiring an apartment that was part of a hotel complex that could host six young people and that had security so nobody could just wander in to the party.
It's tricky though.
And a tricky age.
And if people are hell bent on breaking rules, they will.
But at least make it hard for them.
Relying on a staffer doing a drive by to ensure all is well probably isn't gold standard security.
And it does make me very nervous about renting out property to just anyone.
Zion Purukamu, 16, died at Christchurch Hospital after being stabbed at a 17th birthday party.
Two teenagers aged 14 and 17 were also stabbed at the Fendalton property remain in a serious but stable condition in hospital.
It's understood that an Airbnb had been rented for the party, and trouble started when gate crashers turned up and were turned away.
The property had been rented through Airbnb, listed by Christchurch Holiday Homes, which makes you wonder if enough checks and balances are done on who's renting properties on the books.
One of the company’s directors, Susan Harrison, believed the guest who booked it had a legitimate account, which meant they were over 18.
Police have spoken to the Airbnb renter.
The property’s rules include not having guests after 10pm.
Harrison yesterday said they thought it was strange the booking was for two people in a large house, but a staffer had passed the property earlier in the evening and not noticed anything untoward.
The mother of a girl who attended the party said it was a girl's birthday party and the house had been rented for that purpose when uninvited guests showed up, some of whom were kicked out.
It brings back very raw memories of when a couple of young teenagers were stabbed in our neighbourhood when my daughter was a teenager.
She was desperate to host a party for her best friend when my then husband and I were going away for the weekend, and we were adamant it wouldn't happen.
Not because we didn't trust her - it was just there had been ample tragic evidence that things could get out of hand through no fault of their own.
There was much flouncing and huffing on both sides and in the end we compromised on hiring an apartment that was part of a hotel complex that could host six young people and that had security so nobody could just wander in to the party.
It's tricky though.
And a tricky age.
And if people are hell bent on breaking rules, they will.
But at least make it hard for them.
Relying on a staffer doing a drive by to ensure all is well probably isn't gold standard security.
And it does make me very nervous about renting out property to just anyone.
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