Teens arrested after school fires

Mangere East School teachers devastated by a fire which destroyed several classrooms at their south Auckland school this week hope the accused arsonists get the help they need.

Boys aged 13 and 14 were arrested yesterday in relation to the Monday arson attack, which caused so much damage the school will be closed until next Monday.

Fires were lit in two places, destroying seven classrooms.

Principal Anthony Noble-Campbell said today it could be two years before the buildings were replaced.

"I just hope these children get the necessary support to overcome this fascination around fire and destruction and come to a realisation that the damage they have done is significant, not just to buildings but to people, to resources, to everything."

Demolition workers were today knocking down burnt out classrooms and Mr Noble-Campbell said it was hoped temporary classrooms would be on site by the time the third term began, on July 19.

Staff met today and when the school reopened five classes would be relocated into the hall, and two in the library information centre.

"It means those two huge resources we use for the school can't be used until we get eight relocatable classrooms on the site."

Staff were carrying a huge sense of grief and loss, he said. Many had worked at the school for more than 10 years and it was a second home to many.

The school had also been getting an amazing level of community support, he said.

It was important that the teenagers who had been arrested got the help they needed if they were found guilty Mr Noble-Campbell said.

Meanwhile in the Far North, police said they had arrested a 15-year-old girl over a fire at Kerikeri High School on Sunday. She was to appear in Kaikohe Youth Court charged with arson.

The fire destroyed one classroom and severely damaged several others at the Bay of Islands school.

- NZPA