ONEHUNGA MUM ACCUSED OF "MUFTI DAY ARMS RACE" AFTER SENDING SON IN FULL TUXEDO
It was a gold coin donation. She brought a cummerbund.
Right, so I'm down at the pub last Friday — Speights in hand, minding my own — when my mate Constable Pearce starts in on this mufti day saga out of Onehunga Primary. He's not even on that beat, mind you, but he reckons it's "a matter of escalating public concern" or whatever he says when he's had two.
Anyway. The gist of it, as I heard it, is some mum down Princes Street way sent her boy to school last Friday in a full tuxedo. Bow tie. Cummerbund. The lot. Mufti day was meant to be a gold coin donation for the Year 6 camp, and most kids rocked up in trackies and a Warriors jersey. This kid arrived looking like he was MC-ing a Civic Theatre gala.
The mum, a Bronwyn something-or-other (I want to say Bronwyn Mealing but don't quote me, my mate's brother-in-law teaches there and he's a shocking gossip), apparently told the office staff her son "likes to express himself formally". The office staff, per the tip-off, said nothing and just wrote it down.
Now here's where it gets good. By Monday, three other mums had clocked it, and by Wednesday a Year 4 girl turned up in jodhpurs and a riding helmet to a perfectly normal school day. No mufti. Just jodhpurs. Pearce reckons this is what he calls a "PTA-adjacent escalation event" and he's seen it before in Remuera in 2019, allegedly.
The principal — and I'm paraphrasing because my mate was three pints deep when he told me — sent a newsletter saying mufti day raised $340 and also "some questions about the spirit of the exercise". One dad on the class WhatsApp reportedly replied with a thumbs up and then left the group. Bronwyn has since started a sub-committee.
Last I heard, next mufti day's been quietly rescheduled to a Wednesday in the holidays. Bloody clever, that. (takes a sip) Anyway. Your shout.
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Reader Letters
couchcrazy
This sounds like a bit of a piss-take, mate.
Garry (Halswell)
I remember back in my school days when a mufti day meant wearing your favourite t-shirt and maybe a pair of shorts if you were feeling adventurous. Tuxedos? That's just munted. It's all about showing off now, I tell ya. Wouldn't have even flown in '78.
MumOf3_Riccarton
Whoa there, Garry. A tuxedo is just a laugh! It's better than those ridiculous designer track pants that cost more than my first car. Let the kids have their fun.
Stacey_from_Pukekohe
Honestly, what's the world coming to when kids can't just wear their Warriors jersey and call it a day? Mufti is meant to be fun, not a bloody fashion show.
wayne1987
Eh, it's not like the other mums had to follow. If they wanted to compete in a mufti arms race, that's their choice. No one forced them into buying jodhpurs.
tired_in_riccarton
You're all missing the point! This is just another example of the council's underfunding. Schools have to rely on mufti days to raise funds when it should be covered. Classic deflection tactics by those in power!
Trev_Hornby
Ah, the joys of the Onehunga Primary grapevine. Never fails to entertain. I say, let the kids express themselves. Just keep the focus on the fundraising.
Kiri_AKL
No point getting buggered about it. In Remuera, they're probably already planning the next PTA fashion show. Just keep things in perspective.
couchgremlin
Lol