Prime Minister Chris Hipkins is condemning the violent attack on a girl outside an Auckland McDonald's at the weekend.
On Saturday, the 12-year-old was viciously attacked by another girl - who wrongly thought the victim had earlier laughed at her - in Glenfield, Stuff reported.
Images from the aftermath of the attack showed the victim, who'd recently moved to New Zealand from the Philippines with her family, covered in blood.
Speaking about the attack, Hipkins said it was "utterly unacceptable".
"I can say, as a parent, like every parent who sees that photo, they will be heartbroken by that and appalled by it - I think everybody is and everybody should be," he told Laura Tupou during his weekly interview with AM.
He said it was important appropriate action was taken to hold whoever was responsible to account.
"Politicians don't make those decisions. Ultimately, the police make those decisions."
Hipkins said he backed the police to respond to the attack accordingly.
"This is an abhorrent situation," he added.
Insp Stefan Sagar, of Waitematā East, said one person was being spoken to about the assault and would be referred to Youth Aid.
Support was being provided to the victim and members of the community who were impacted by what happened, he said.
"We acknowledge this was a frightening incident for those involved and we would like to reassure the community we have no tolerance for this type of behaviour."
