RUNDOWN AND ROTTEN

Naenae College's crumbling buildings can be traced directly back to financial negligence by the College dating to the early 2000s. The college failed to monitor its finances, took on excessive debt, and required a $1.6 million government bailout in 2004 to avoid insolvency.

But rather than correct course, the school quickly defaulted on the bailout loan. Money that should have gone to critical maintenance was instead diverted to debt payments for years, allowing the facilities to fall into dangerous disrepair.

A letter from the principal himself admits the debt is responsible for the "very poor condition" of school property. The bailout, necessitated by administrative failures, left Naenae College unable to provide a safe and healthy environment for students.

School leadership kicked the can down the road, prioritising debt service over infrastructure. They balanced the books on the backs of students now stuck in crumbling, hazardous buildings.