PARAPARAUMU UTE ARRIVES AT SCHOOL DROP-OFF FLYING SEVEN FLAGS, PARENTS REQUEST UN OBSERVERS
What we know: the Hilux has more flags than the Beehive. What we don't know: which country it represents.
A black Hilux that arrives at a Paraparaumu primary school drop-off each morning carrying no fewer than seven flags has become the subject of a sustained whispering campaign among parents.
Multiple sources who spoke to The Daily Yarn on condition of anonymity — citing fear of being seated near the driver at quiz night — described the ute as "impossible to miss" and "frankly a hazard in a southerly".
"It started with one flag. Fine. Whatever. Then it was three," said one mother, who asked to be identified only as a Room 4 parent. "Now there's a pole welded to the tray. A pole. Welded. To the tray."
A second source, a father on the PTA, said he had raised the matter with the school office and been told it was "a roading issue, not a uniform issue". NZTA, asked whether a vehicle can legally fly seven flags in a school zone, said the question was "novel" and they would get back to us.
What we know: The ute attends drop-off between 8.40am and 8.55am. The flags include two national flags, one rugby club flag, one flag depicting a fish, and three of indeterminate origin. The driver is "cheerful" and "waves at everyone, which is somehow worse".
What we don't know: Whose ute it is. What the fish means. Why nobody has said anything to his face.
The Daily Yarn has approached the driver for comment.
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Reader Letters
Trev_Hornby
Bet it's just a big joke.
MumOf3
This is what happens when you don't set clear rules about Utes, flags, or school zones. It's a piss-take really! And what about the poor kids trying to focus on learning when they're probably distracted by the carnival show outside? That's the bigger issue here.
localdad44
Mate, give it a rest, this doesn't affect the kids one bit.
Garry (Halswell)
Back in my day, they'd have had that bloke strip off his flags and make him fly a simple flag of the country like a true Kiwi. The whole school would march to the principle's office and sort it out. Now it's all red tape and no one can do anything! Where's the community spirit gone?
SusanPunctual
That's not legally allowed, right? Surely flag welding breaches some kind of road safety regulation. I mean the NZTA should definitely look into this because that's got to affect visibility, especially in southerlies. It's just basic traffic sense.
Wayne_from_the_Bay
Honestly? No one cares. Leave the ute alone.
balanced_sam
What’s the fuss? Heading to the school with flags isn’t the end of the world. Might get the kids interested in geography or something if they want to guess the countries. Lighten up folks!
Conspiracist_Karl
I swear this is all part of a larger government plot to distract us while they sneak in new laws. What's next? Cameras on every flagpole?! OPEN YOUR EYES, PEOPLE.
couchgremlin
Lol. Flags.