Taupō-nui-a-Tia College fire: School closed until Thursday after arson charges

Smoke pouring out of Taupo-nui-a-Tia College during yesterday's blaze.

Taupō-nui-a-Tia College will remain closed until at least Wednesday after a significant fire destroyed a block of classrooms and specialist facilities.

School principal Ben Claxton said Fire and Emergency New Zealand remained on site today, keeping the Sunday night fire “contained and the site safe”.

“The Ministry of Education’s Emergency Response Team is on site and assessments are under way to determine next steps.”

The block that was destroyed housed 13 classrooms as well as the Bay Trust health services.

The full extent of the damage was still being assessed, Claxton said.

“Security is in place, and safety fencing will be installed to create a safe perimeter around the fire zone.

“In the interim, our school leadership has made the difficult decision to close the college site on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

“This will allow the different teams to do what is needed to keep our school community safe.”

Students should check their email and Google Classroom for online learning programmes as staff prepare to start teaching.

Families unable to access online content have been encouraged to contact subject teachers.

“I realise this is not the start to the school term that any of us wanted, and that the road to recovery will not be an overnight fix,” Claxton said.

“The well-being of our students and staff is our absolute priority.”

Taupō District Council deputy mayor Kevin Taylor.

Taupo District deputy mayor Kevin Taylor said the “devastation” caused by the fire at Taupo-nui-a-Tia College was not just some “shed fire”.

“This was massive,” Taylor said.

“The community is reeling from the destruction of the N block and Bay Trust Centre at Taupō-nui-a-Tia College,” he said.

“Teaching resources, equipment and teachers’ and students’ work literally up in flames.”

Taylor said the council had made multiple offers of support to the school.

“We’ve offered facilities for meetings, for staff and for the board,” he said.

“Anything that they need, that we’re able to provide. Like many other groups and individuals within the community, we will step up and make that available.”

He also commended emergency services for their response.

“The Taupō-nui-a-Tia College community is a strong and proud one and will come back from this, but the loss of so many classrooms will make school life difficult for weeks to come,” Taylor said.

The Taupō District Council said it was ready to support the school once its needs were fully known, including staff assistance with planning and regulatory processes.

Police said two youths had been charged with arson. The pair were due to appear in the Taupō Youth Court this week.

Detective Sergeant Allan Humphries said the fire destroyed a block of classrooms “along with everything inside”.

“We acknowledge this will be devastating for college teachers, students and families,” Humphries said.

Claxton said the school community was grateful for the support and urged people to avoid speculation as recovery work continues.

“We understand this will be unsettling for families, and we ask people to refrain from rumour as we work through this situation together.”

Tom Eley is a multimedia journalist at the Waikato Herald. He previously worked for the Weekend Sun and Sunlive.