Wellington  - A 17-year-old Korean student was ordered to undergo a psychiatric examination when he appeared in court Wednesday charged with stabbing a teacher during a class at an Auckland college, news reports said.

A judge in the Auckland District Court remanded Tae Won Chung in custody until March 18 on a charge of wounding Japanese language teacher David Warren, 49, with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, on Tuesday.

Police opposed an application for bail, saying they had concerns about the "level of premeditation" in the alleged attack on Warren, who was reportedly stabbed in the back as he wrote on a whiteboard.

Warren was discharged from hospital after treatment. (dpa)