INGLEWOOD PRIMARY FLOGS WRAPPING PAPER AT $12 A ROLL, SIX ROLL MINIMUM
The PTA says it's for the pool. The pool has been getting a shade sail since 2019.
An Inglewood Primary fundraiser is selling wrapping paper at $12 a roll, minimum order six rolls, in a scheme parents are calling "a tax with reindeer on it".
The paper comes in three designs: snowflakes, more snowflakes, and one the catalogue calls "festive geometric". Parents have been told to sell to friends, family, and "the wider community", which in Inglewood means the same six people at the Four Square.
Mother of two Rochelle Downey, 41, said she'd already bought her own allocation. "I've got eighteen rolls in the hall cupboard from last year. Gerald's mum got four for her birthday. She's still got three."
A PTA spokesperson said the drive was "tracking well" and the money would go towards a shade sail for the pool. Asked how many rolls had been sold to people who don't have a kid at the school, the spokesperson said the figure was "not currently to hand".
One dad, who asked not to be named because his wife is on the committee, said he'd tried to hand over $70 cash instead of taking the paper. He was told that wasn't how it worked. "Point is the paper, apparently. I said the point is the pool. We didn't agree."
Orders close Friday.
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Reader Letters
Trev_Hornby
Who needs that much wrapping paper?
MumOf3
Wrap it up, Inglewood! This is getting ridiculous. If the pool's been waiting for this shade sail since 2019, maybe it's time to rethink the strategy. We used to have bake sales and car washes, things the community could actually get behind. $12 a roll for wrapping paper no one wants is just a piss-take.
tired_in_riccarton
Mate, it's not about the paper, it's about the principle. Parents shouldn't be bullied into buying stuff we don't need. Where's the transparency with the funds?
Garry_1972
Shady sails or not, just buy the rolls and smile. It's for the kids, mate!
ropeable_dave
I'd rather just give them cash to buy the damn sail. Who runs these PTAs anyway? Just buy a bouncy castle instead!
wayne1987
It's a conspiracy, I'm telling ya! They probably built the shade sail ages ago and are milking us dry. Typical PTA nonsense. Wake up, people!
Sandra McKenzie
You reckon they could come up with a design that isn't snowflakes? It's like they're trying to make us live in a winter wonderland that doesn't exist in Taranaki.
Munted_Mike
Lol.