School fires thought to be deliberately lit

Two of the fires were discovered by cleaners as they did their rounds at Manaia View Primary School in Whangarei.

Three fires thought to have been deliberately lit have caused little damage to a Northland school and police have CCTV footage of the possible arsonists.

Two of the fires were discovered by cleaners as they did their rounds at Manaia View Primary School in Whangarei on Tuesday and a third yesterday morning.

Whangarei police spokeswoman Sarah Kennett said officers were shown the remains of the two fires on Tuesday, one which was outside the girls' toilet block and the other outside the school's music room.

Yesterday, a small fire was lit just outside the school hall and security camera footage of suspects shows two men and three women, aged in their 20s. Apart from smoke residue, none of the fires caused significant damage. Police were unsure when the fires were lit but smoke was still slowly flowing out of a piece of fabric that was set alight outside the music room at the time it was discovered.

School principal Leeanne Otene said they were the first intentional fires and it was concerning. She was thankful none of the fires had caused any real damage.

Mrs Kennett said police had increased their visibility in Whangarei. They had carried out more foot patrols through the central city and had been working with business owners to reduce the number of shoplifting incidents during the school holidays. She said retailers were given advice about the best way to lay out their stores to reduce the temptation for thieves.