'No respect for anyone'

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.

"We are a small school trying our best to survive in financial times that are difficult for many.

"Please, anyone who knows anything about who did this, some time between Monday afternoon and Tuesday morning, come forward. This needs to stop."

Principal Michele Mill, who is currently overseas, was equally saddened and angered, the only potential consolation being that the vandals may have been captured on the security cameras.

"Whatever is on the cameras, I hope we will glean some information from someone," she said.

"These vandals have no respect at all for anyone. A while ago the brass plaque was stolen off a memorial to the Sisters of Mercy, Sister Bernadette being one of them."