A vandalism attack that resulted in a school staff member going over the bonnet of a moving car is described by a principal as "beyond any sort of joke".
A group of young people were on the grounds of Rotorua Lakes High School on Wednesday evening when they were seenvandalising property with silver spray paint, flour and toilet paper.
Police, informed of the incident about 10.35pm, said a school staff member and their son interrupted the vandals, who then fled the scene, injuring the son.
Rotorua Lakes High School principal Jon Ward told the Rotorua Daily Post the incident went "way beyond the point where it is even slightly funny".
Ward, who found out about the incident about 1am, understood the injured staff member went over the bonnet of the car as it was moving and landed on his knees.
Rotorua Lakes High School principal Jon Ward. Photo / Andrew Warner
"It could have been so much worse."
He understood the young people involved were students from another school.
Ward hoped the incident would serve as a lesson for other students in Rotorua.
Silver spray paint was used causing damage to school murals - along with flour and toilet paper.
The damage was "all around" the school but most of it was removed early Thursday.
"They have pretty much gone around every block in the school and tried to raise merry hell."
Rotorua Lakes High School said online yesterday the staff member was run over by a car after they caught people vandalising the school with flour and toilet paper in a prank.
The post said: "It went badly wrong. They were intercepted by our ground staff but tried to escape. One of our staff was run over and is now in A&E in hospital."
An online post later that day said the injured staff member was "shaken" but "overwhelmed with the aroha shown by our community".
"The information we now have is that the students involved in this event came from another school in Rotorua. We will be working with that school's leadership and the police to ensure appropriate processes are followed."
Police said inquiries into the matter were ongoing.
Another incident at John Paul College yesterday saw eggs thrown at the cars of both students and staff.
School principal Patrick Walsh said the school considered this behaviour "criminal damage which we actively discourage".
He said "luckily" the egg was cleaned off so no cars were permanently damaged.
"In the past, the egg has baked on to the car paint and it has cost the owners thousands having to repaint panels.
"It is totally unnecessary, disrespectful and unfair."
Walsh said the fact a staff member at Rotorua Lakes High School was injured doing their job also "brings home also how dangerous it is".
He reiterated that all secondary principals in Rotorua "take the matter seriously" and had spoken to senior students about it.
