A counsellor in Whangarei says vicious fights involving girls are becoming more common, and some have caused serious injury.
Police are concerned about a recent spate of fights by teenage girls, watched by crowds of others, and they say some fights are even arranged by parents.
Child psychotherapist Jude Oliver says she has dealt with several cases where fight victims needed hospital treatment for days.
She says fights often follow weeks of harassment by text messaging, and some girls have been forced to change schools to get away from the violence.
Ms Oliver says it is common for female aggressors to have had violent mothers.
'Misguided hope' of reducing injury
Whangarei police officer Hank van Engelen, who works in schools, says this year's crop of 13- and 14-year-olds are the main culprits, gathering in large numbers to watch the fights and video them.
He says the fights are not race-based, or confined to any particular group or school.
Mr van Engelen says that in some cases parents have actually arranged the fights in the misguided hope of reducing the risk of injury.
He says theycould be charged under child protection laws with failing to provide the necessaries of life for their daughters - that is: a safe environment.
