Practice for the National Secondary Schools' Kapa Haka Competition continues for students of Ōpōtiki College at Terere Marae today following a fire at the meeting house of their school while they were practising in the hall.
Te Okeroa Huriwaka says, “When I arrived at the college, the children were crying because of the shock.”
Fire Service investigators have been examining the scene and don't believe the fire was suspicious.
Locals from the community of Ōpōtiki are devastated that fire has damaged the meeting house of the college.
The principal of Ōpōtiki College says that the school will continue to move forward and work will begin to restore the meeting house.