Source: New Zealand Police (District News)
Arrest made in relation to arson at Whakatāne school:
I tēnei rangi, kua whakarau ngā Kairapuhara o te rāwhiti o Te Moana a Toi i tētahi tāngata mō te mahi tahu whare o te kura tuatahi o Apanui i Whakatāne.
I tahuna te whare i te atapō i te 6 Pepuere 2021, ā, i whakamōtītī te whare tari me ngā akomanga e waru e hono ana ki te whare tari.
I whakarautia tētahi tāne i Tauranga 22 te pakeke i te ata nei, ā, ka tū ki te Kōti Ā-Rohe o Whakatāne hei āpōpō, mō te hāmene o te tahu whare me te tāhae, me tētahi atu hāmene mō te whānako hupe i ara mai i tūāhua kē atu.
Hei tā Kairapuhara Haihana Karauna Paul Wilson, kaiwhakahaere i ngā tūhura ā-rohe o Waiariki ki te rāwhiti “ ka ngau tēnei hara ki te hapori katoa, rātou e whai pānga anaki te kura tuatahi i tētahi tāone iti. Kei te whakahīhī ahau ki te kaha ū a te tīma tūhura i tā rātou ngākau titikaha i ēnei marama ki te whakahere i te tangata ki āna i mahi nei.”
I te mea kei mua i te kōti tēnei take, kāore e taea te kōrero.
Arrest made in relation to arson at Whakatāne school
Eastern Bay of Plenty Detectives have today arrested a man in relation to the arson of Apanui Primary School in Whakatāne.
The fire occurred in the early hours of 6 February 2021 and destroyed the office block and eight attached classrooms.
A 22-year-old man was arrested in Tauranga this morning and is due to appear in the Whakatāne District Court tomorrow facing charges of arson and burglary, and a further charge of aggravated robbery arising from an unrelated incident.
Area Manager Investigations, Eastern Bay of Plenty, Detective Senior Sergeant Paul Wilson says “this offence was one that hurt the whole community, who felt a connection to their local primary school in a small town. I’m proud of the dedication displayed by the investigation team in persevering over many months to hold the person responsible to account.”
As this matter is now before the court, we are unable to comment further.
Advisory
Hei whakanui i te Wiki o Te Reo Māori, Ka te whakaputaina e Ngā Pirihimana o Aotearoa ētahi kawepūrongo pāpaho i roto i te reo Māori. Ka whakamāorihia ēnei e ētahi kaiwhakamāori. Me tiro ngā mea e rua e tino mārama ai koe ki ngā kupu ā-ture, ā-kaupapa hoki.
New Zealand Police are issuing some press releases in te reo as part of our celebration of Te Wiki o Te Reo. All releases have been translated using accredited translators. We recommend consulting both the te reo translation and original English versions for greatest clarity regarding the use of any legal or technical terms.
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre
