Playcentre trashed after becoming teen hang out
Okaihau’s playcentre went into recess in December, but Rebecca Anderson, whose children were the last to be enrolled there, had hoped it would resume at some point, if and when more families arrived in the community.
Those hopes have faded somewhat, however, thanks to the damage done, inside the buildings and out, that Ms Anderson blamed on young people who had been using it as a “hang out joint”.
The damage was discovered last month, and significantly more had been done since then, she said. Three Okaihau College students had arrived at the playcentre while the police were there, but denied any responsibility for the damage.
Rooms had been trashed, holes punched in walls, doors ripped off and windows. On a subsequent visit Ms Anderson found lit candles, and later still two students had been found there.
Evidence of drug use was also found, and Ms Anderson had seen what she described as “disturbing writing”, on paper and on walls.
“You can tell it’s kids who wrote it, but how do they comprehend or understand the things they are writing about? It really is worrying,” she said.
There had been talk of redeveloping the facility as a youth centre, which she said would be “amazing,” but a lot of work would have to be done before it could be used for anything.
Okaihau College principal Thomas Davison said it would be inappropriate to comment given that the matter was with the police.
“I can confirm that we take the conduct of our students seriously, and will support the police investigation in any way we can,” Mr Davison added however.