Allandale Primary School is appealing to the community for help as ongoing vandalism and break-ins continue to erode staff morale, school resources and the pride tamariki take in their learning environment.

Principal Josh Te Aomarere says the school has exhausted every option in its efforts to curb the behaviour. Now, tighter security, including new fencing and restricting after-hours access, is under serious consideration.

“We just need to make the community aware,” he said. “Not for a witch hunt, but because it’s become too much for us to keep managing. These are resources that should be going to the kids.”

The damage has been relentless and costly: smashed windows, broken doors and walls, tagging and graffiti, destroyed garden beds, and vandalised outdoor equipment. Some incidents have created real safety hazards. A section of the pool fence was torn down over a weekend, only discovered by staff on Monday morning.

Even smaller acts are disheartening.

“We’ll turn up on Monday to find the tomato plants the kids have planted have been ripped out of the garden,” Mr Te Aomarere said.

The vandalism occurs after school hours, most often on weekends or during holidays. Each new incident is dispiriting for tamariki and staff who work hard to maintain a positive school environment.

“It’s a small number of people mistreating our space, and that’s the real frustration,” he said.

Allandale Primary is working closely with police, the Ministry of Education, Waiariki Whānau Mentoring and neighbouring schools to address the issue. The school is urging the public to report any suspicious activity on 111.

“It’s vital that people don’t try to intervene themselves, calling the police is the best outcome for everyone.”

Senior Constable Kevin Raynes agrees the problem is bigger than just one school and needs a community response. He said other schools were also facing similar challenges.

“All the agencies are trying to work together, including families, to curb this,” he said. “Police have been proactive, walking through schools in the evenings, so the police have been proactive in targeting those who are ruining it for everyone else.

He urged parents to be aware of their children’s movements.

“I would be asking parents: Do you know where your kids are? Do you know what they’re doing? Parents need to take some responsibility if their kids are out there damaging school property or graffitiing at night.”

Allandale, he said, was a well-resourced and valued community school. “But it is spoiled by a handful of young people.”

The school is exploring additional security measures and has already increased after-hours monitoring. Plans for new fencing aim to prevent access during peak times when damage occurs.

Closing the school grounds completely is not the preferred option.

“We will consider it. We have exhausted every avenue available to us, particularly by choosing not to name and shame people.

“There is nothing better than coming in on the weekend to see families out on the field – dad kicking a ball around or kids on the flying fox.”

Although the school’s CCTV has captured useful images, the school has chosen not to share footage online.

“Yes, there is behaviour we don’t like, but naming and shaming is not the avenue for us.”

Board of trustees’ member Erin Green said the school prides itself on providing open, welcoming grounds for community use.

“The majority of people use the grounds respectfully,” she said. “However, a small minority are having a really negative impact.”

With the summer holidays approaching, Mr Te Aomarere hopes the community can play a role in protecting the school.

“We’re not trying to target any particular group,” he said. “We’re simply being open and saying we’ve had enough,” said Mr Te Aomarere.

Board chair Estelle Reid said the ongoing damage has been unsettling and costly.

“Our school is a second home for our tamariki, our kaimahi and our community. Every dollar spent on repairs is a dollar not spent on learning opportunities.”