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Computers, security cameras and floodlights donated to Mangere schools

Two weeks ago Campbell Live brought you a story on two Mangere primary schools that had lost many thousands of dollars worth of technology in burglaries.

The schools found it heart-breaking, and did not have the means to replace the stolen computers.

But tonight we bring you a happy ending.

In Wellington last week a charitable trust called Computers in Schools sent out an SOS for companies to help the two schools in our story.

Computers originally from the IRD and BNZ have been donated for children from Mangere to use them to study and learn.

Since hearing about the school burglaries last month, technicians took on the challenge to update and convert 80 computer hard drives, making then near new for the schools.

"What brings the kids to school and keeps them interested is the computers," says Graham McCreedy, Computers for Schools programme president. "You never see the bad behaviour in a computer class."

Mr McCreedy loaded up his van in Wellington and hit the road for Auckland.

For Mangere Bridge Primary, Philips New Zealand supplied flood lights, 50 eco-lighting bulbs and four computers.

"It's just so lovely to have people doing really positive things for us," says principal Judy Hanna. "I'm actually speechless."

Renaissance Brands donated an MI5 high-quality security camera to help catch any future burglars.

Mangere Central has a bigger roll, and its students study here until year eight. One class Campbell Live visited will receive two of the donated computers.

Forty hard drives from Computers for Schools has almost doubled the number of computers this school originally had.

Philips New Zealand donated five more.

Rennaissance Brands supplied another wireless camera here, one that stores 65,000 photos at a time.

There have been 55 burglaries at Mangere Schools since November. Mangere Central is one of the more recent, and just today police made an arrest.

• Schools arming themselves against theft