ONERAHI SCHOOL CAR PARK NOW OPERATING UNDER PEACEKEEPING ROSTER AT 3PM
Two mums haven't made eye contact since the term two bake sale. A third is mediating from a Hilux.
The staff car park at an Onerahi primary school has been informally split into neutral zones at pickup. Three mothers now act as buffer states between two factions that haven't spoken since April.
It started over a parallel park outside the gate. It has since spread to the PTA, the Friday cake stall, and a WhatsApp group called "Onerahi Mums (Original)" — a splinter from "Onerahi Mums", which is no longer active.
Lynette Paterson, 41, who parks in the far corner on principle, said the situation had become embarrassing. "I drive in, I do a lap, I assess the mood. If Megan's Prado is on the left, I go right. If Donna's Outlander is on the right, I go home and come back at 3.25."
A third mother, Hayley, has taken to parking her Hilux at an angle in the middle of the lot. She calls it the demilitarised zone. She reverses out slowly so both sides can see she's being even-handed. She has not been thanked.
The deputy principal, asked whether the office had a position, said staff were "aware of tensions" and had moved the sausage sizzle to Thursday to "reduce contact hours". Watties chipolatas, for the record. Not the good ones.
When I went to school in 1974 the only drama at the gate was whether you'd been down the pier. The Hilux is still there. Hayley has brought a thermos.
It started over a parallel park outside the gate. It has since spread to the PTA, the Friday cake stall, and a WhatsApp group called "Onerahi Mums (Original)" — a splinter from "Onerahi Mums", which is no longer active.
Lynette Paterson, 41, who parks in the far corner on principle, said the situation had become embarrassing. "I drive in, I do a lap, I assess the mood. If Megan's Prado is on the left, I go right. If Donna's Outlander is on the right, I go home and come back at 3.25."
A third mother, Hayley, has taken to parking her Hilux at an angle in the middle of the lot. She calls it the demilitarised zone. She reverses out slowly so both sides can see she's being even-handed. She has not been thanked.
The deputy principal, asked whether the office had a position, said staff were "aware of tensions" and had moved the sausage sizzle to Thursday to "reduce contact hours". Watties chipolatas, for the record. Not the good ones.
When I went to school in 1974 the only drama at the gate was whether you'd been down the pier. The Hilux is still there. Hayley has brought a thermos.