'Devastating' fire at Kapiti Coast's oldest school

The school was closed today, and would remain closed until further notice. Photo / Twitter / Radio New Zealand

The fire that destroyed four classrooms and a library at Kapiti Coast's oldest school is "devastating" says the principal.

Paraparaumu School principal Steven Caldwell told TV One's Breakfast this morning his main concern was the children.

"My main concern is the children, making sure they know that Paraparaumu School will be open as soon as we can get it open and that they will be able to come back to school.

"It's going to be really hard on those kids, they've lost their classrooms."

The school was closed today, and would remain closed until further notice.

Mr Caldwell told the programme the school had lost four junior blocks and a library completely, and other classrooms had cracked windows from heat exposure and smoke damage.

The fire had also impacted on plans for a 125 year celebration later in the year, he said.

All of the archival photos were lost in the fire.

"We had folders and folders of photos in the library, going back 125 years, it is the oldest school on the Kapiti Coast.

"It's a pretty iconic school on the coast and it is devastating."