Rotorua primary school ransacked by group of teenagers

A Rotorua primary school is facing at least $80,000 in damage after a group of teenagers ransacked classrooms, its principal says.

Five teenagers aged 13 to 15 broke into Western Heights Primary school in Rotorua on Sunday and threw acrylic classroom paint over ceilings, walls, furniture and carpets.

Principal Brent Griffin said seeing the damage was devastating.

"Heart-wrenching to see everything we've worked for in these classrooms just destroyed in such a short period of time, and aimless disregard for anyone else."

Griffin said it was difficult to comprehend how much damage the group had caused.

"It was rough, I can't really describe it, it was just when you walked in the door you couldn't really believe what you were seeing."

Griffin said there was CCTV footage of the offenders, who were not connected to, or known by the school.

He expected the damage to cost $80,000 to $120,000 to clean up.

Griffin said despite how devastating the vandalism was, it had shown what a great community the school had.

"Their kindness, their willingness to support, start up Givealittle pages... as negative as this whole thing is, the positives that have come from this just shows what a brilliant place Rotorua really is."

He said teachers had come in on their day off, hundreds of people had called to wish them well and Cafe Dynasti in Ngongotahā had brought in morning tea for the staff.

Griffin said the school was completely closed until 12pm on Monday, when some students would be allowed back, and commercial cleaners were aiming to have things ready for all students to return on Tuesday morning.

Police inspector Ewan Dunsmuir said they were making enquires after a report of a burglary at a school in Rotorua at 4:50pm on Sunday.

Dunsmuir said police would conduct a forensic examination on Monday.