'Catastrophic destruction': School closed after vandals ransack eight classrooms

A Rotorua primary school is closed this morning following the “catastrophic destruction” of several classrooms in a weekend break-in.

Six classrooms and two cloak bay areas at Western Heights Primary School were ransacked on Sunday, with paint thrown across carpet, walls and desks and children’s work destroyed.

Principal Brent Griffin told the Rotorua Daily Post he had never seen anything like it, describing the scene as “catastrophic destruction”.

“In the 24 years I’ve been here, we’ve had two events involving vandalism but nothing to this degree.

“To check through the CCTV and see three teenage girls and a young boy causing the damage, it’s horrific.”

He said they were not connected to the school.

Griffin said it had been a “tough 16 hours” since the damage was discovered, but the school’s community had been wonderful and it would reopen tomorrow.

In a message to the school community, he said he was alerted by security to multiple activations at the school on Sunday.

Several classrooms have been damaged after a break in at Western Heights Primary School. Photo / Western Heights Primary School

“When we arrived, we were met with total devastation. Eight classrooms had been demolished, ransacked, whatever you want to call it.

“Paint thrown all over the rooms, all over the carpet, walls, children’s desks, furnishings, absolute devastation”

Griffin described the offenders as the lowest form of life.

“Fortunately, we have clear CCTV footage, the police have been informed, and we are very likely to find the offenders.

Eight classrooms were targeted. Photo / Western Heights Primary School

“Our tamariki’s mahi was destroyed and their rooms demolished. Who could do that to our beautiful tamariki? It’s hard to understand.”

Griffin said four of the rooms destroyed were the rooms of the 5-year-old students.

“The three girls and a boy who did this should be absolutely ashamed of themselves.

“If your tamariki came home covered in paint, you now know how it happened,” Griffin said.

“If they belong to you, I ask you to do the right thing and make them front up and take responsibility for their actions.”

Several classrooms have been damaged after a break in at Western Heights Primary School. Photo / Western Heights Primary School

“This is heartbreaking for our kura. An estimated cost to repair the damage will exceed $75,000,″ Griffin said.

The school was due to open at midday on Monday to allow for police investigations and a commercial clean-up.

“To my staff and community members who spent over four hours reshaping the classrooms, trying to save the tamariki’s mahi, removing paint, my heart felt aroha goes out to you,” Griffin said.

“It’s not a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon.”

Several classrooms have been damaged after a break in at Western Heights Primary School. Photo / Western Heights Primary School

Griffin described the offenders as a complete embarrassment to their whānau and community as a whole.

Rotorua Police Inspector Ewan Dunsmuir said police were making inquiries after a report of a burglary at the school about 4.50pm on Sunday.

“Police are due to conduct a forensic examination today.”