A Waikato teenager has sustained multiple internal injuries to organs and numerous broken bones after what police have revealed was a "callous, calculated and deliberate" hit-and-run near Ngāruawāhia.
Newshub met the boy's father as he visited the scene at Hopuhopu Domain, to see for himself where his "quiet, humble achiever" son was targeted, at 5pm on Wednesday.
He said his son is now off the ventilator machine in intensive care, but is "still in a bad way".
A broken fence and tyre marks signal where police say a black Toyota Auris hit the 15-year-old as he walked to get the bus home after visiting his nana.
"We know this car - a black Toyota Auris with the registration number NBE817 - was seen on CCTV leaving the Huntly township at approximately 4:40pm on Wednesday 10 April, and it travelled to the Hopuhopu area," said Detective Inspector Darrell Harpur.
He told Newshub after the vehicle hit the youth, it targeted him twice more at speeds of 20km/h, dragging the boy as the car went through a fence.
Police say a witness saw the whole ordeal unfold and they've since been interviewed by officers.
The car believed to have been used in the attack was reported stolen an hour later.
Officers found it abandoned in the carpark of the Pukemokemoke Bush Reserve on Thursday night, 20 kilometres away from the scene.
"We have an open mind, we don't know if the driver knew the victim but we are doing everything we can to bring justice for this boy and his whānau," said Det Insp Harpur.
He described it as "a targeted mowing down".
"We are appealing to anyone if you know anything or have dashcam footage of that vehicle in the Waikato around Huntly, Hopuhopu Domain or Tauhei Rd Wednesday afternoon or evening to please speak with us."
The boy's father told Newshub he couldn't understand the offender or offender's motive but police say they believe the driver "was an older person, an adult".
Det Insp Harpur said the alleged offence was "calculated and callous... someone that had rage" and wanted to assure the public it was not a random act.
Police are following strong leads and "are confident we will resolve this in the near future".
They've also set up a portal for the public to upload images and short videos into.
Those with "larger quantities of footage" can contact police by calling 105 and quoting file number 240410/3018.
