Maori school vows to recover from 'senseless' arson

Staff and pupils of a Porirua Maori school devastated by arson are reeling as they take in catastrophic damage from two deliberately lit fires.

Te Kura Maori o Porirua board of trustees chairwoman Meka Whaitiri said walking through the school "really brings home the senselessness of the act and the huge impact it has".

"One of the parts destroyed is where all our new entrants are and looking at their equipment and all their work they've done - their paintings and their books and paints - it's a very, very sad sight."

Two separate fires were lit at the school and flared up about 1.45am on Saturday.

Four classrooms were gutted and many other buildings damaged by smoke and water. The Maori immersion school has a roll of about 250.

Ms Whaitiri said the Porirua, Maori and educational communities had all rallied around the school.

The Ministry of Education had put a crisis plan into action and was confident of providing temporary classrooms which would enable the school to resume classes when term three started in two weeks' time.

"It gives us comfort that we will at least be able to operate as a proper school, which is our priority," Ms Whaitiri said. "This is a very loved school."

She made a plea for the public to come forward with any information they might have about the fires.

- NZPA