Teens charged after schools hit

Three young people appeared in court in relation to a two-month crime spree targeting Kawakawa schools.

Three young people have appeared in court in relation to a two-month crime spree targeting Kawakawa schools.

Kawakawa Primary School was particularly hard hit with two vans stolen and burnt out, repeated break-ins, and the theft of electronic equipment and musical instruments.

Rau Jasmine Kopa, 17, of Kawakawa, appeared in Kaikohe District Court on multiple charges relating to offences occurring between September 27 and December 4. They include two burglaries at Kawakawa Bowling Club, four burglaries at Kawakawa Primary School, and theft and arson of a school van.

Kopa was also charged with intentional damage of a window at Kawakawa Police Station, at Bay of Islands College and of council-owned farm gates in Moerewa.

An 18-year-old appeared in court on the same day for allegedly taking a van from Bay of Islands College on November 20 and using it to commit crimes around the Mid North. Jozef de Weyer, of Moerewa, was charged with burgling a garage at the college, unlawfully taking a van, burglary of Ohaeawai Dairy, Russell Four Square and Kawakawa Central Butchery, and trespassing on the college grounds.

Both Kopa and de Weyer are due back in court on January 5.

Another man, Hikurangi Te Maunga Hunt, 18, of Kawakawa, is also charged with taking the college van and the burglaries in Ohaeawai, Russell and Bay of Islands College. His first appearance in the Kaikohe District Court was on December 8. He is due back on January 6.

The crime spree caused great distress to staff and parents at the primary school.

The loss of two vans, which had only third party insurance, means the children may not be able to take part in trips and sporting tournaments next year. The remaining van is now kept at a school trustee's home. The school budget was already under pressure after a funding cut.