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Story: Fires and fire services

Investigating arson

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Investigating arson

Consulting electrical engineer Marcel Dewerse investigates a suspicious fire in a burnt-out classroom at Mangawhau School, Auckland, in 2005. Arson is the cause of around 40% of fires, and public buildings such as schools are often targeted.

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New Zealand Herald

Reference: 181205NZHMSFIRE2.JPG

by Martin Sykes

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How to cite this page

Nancy Swarbrick, Fires and fire services – Causes of fires, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/21862/investigating-arson (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Nancy Swarbrick, published 10 March 2010.