The staff at Kaitaia's Pompallier Catholic School were devastated on Tuesday morning when they discovered that vandals had damaged the school's Sacred Heart of Jesus statue, using a large piece of concrete as a missile.
Deputy principal Kathryn Carey said she was dismayed when she saw what had been done
to "our very precious" statue, which had been part of the school for many years.
"It is something we treasure, and assume the public treasure as well," Ms Carey said. "We are devastated, and so will the children be when they return after the holidays."
Everyone at the school was very proud of the Far North and of Kaitaia, taking every opportunity to promote "our wonderful town" and encouraging others to do so as well, she added, but the school had endured constant problems with graffiti and vandalism.
"It is incredibly frustrating," she said.
