STOKE SCHOOL PICKUP LANE NOW FEATURES UTE WITH SEVEN FLAGS, INCLUDING ONE NO-ONE CAN IDENTIFY
The Hilux occupies two parks and an opinion. Other parents are furious but smiling.
A Stoke school drop-off lane has been partially blocked for three weeks by a black Hilux flying seven flags from its tray. One flag nobody can identify.
The ute collects a child each afternoon at 3:15pm sharp. It sports a NZ flag, a tino rangatiratanga flag, an Australian flag upside down, a checkered flag, some sort of Pacific nation flag, a Crusaders flag in Nelson of all places, and a seventh one. One parent described the seventh as "either Bavaria or a beach towel".
Lisa Henneveld, who parks two spaces back in her Outlander, said the situation had become "a bit much, honestly". "I'm not one to complain — well, I am — but the flags flap into my windscreen when he pulls up. The Crusaders one is the worst. We're a Mako household."
The ute's owner, contacted at the school gate, said the flags were "representing". He declined to elaborate on which one was Bavaria. He confirmed the upside-down Australian flag was "on purpose" but would not say why. He then drove off, narrowly missing a scooter.
A Stoke school spokesperson said parking in the pickup lane was "a community matter". The school encouraged "respectful drop-offs". Asked about the flags, she sighed audibly and said she had to go.
The mystery seventh flag was photographed on Tuesday and posted to the year group chat. Cynthia from room 4 reckons it's Lower Saxony. Nobody has asked Cynthia how she knows.
The ute collects a child each afternoon at 3:15pm sharp. It sports a NZ flag, a tino rangatiratanga flag, an Australian flag upside down, a checkered flag, some sort of Pacific nation flag, a Crusaders flag in Nelson of all places, and a seventh one. One parent described the seventh as "either Bavaria or a beach towel".
Lisa Henneveld, who parks two spaces back in her Outlander, said the situation had become "a bit much, honestly". "I'm not one to complain — well, I am — but the flags flap into my windscreen when he pulls up. The Crusaders one is the worst. We're a Mako household."
The ute's owner, contacted at the school gate, said the flags were "representing". He declined to elaborate on which one was Bavaria. He confirmed the upside-down Australian flag was "on purpose" but would not say why. He then drove off, narrowly missing a scooter.
A Stoke school spokesperson said parking in the pickup lane was "a community matter". The school encouraged "respectful drop-offs". Asked about the flags, she sighed audibly and said she had to go.
The mystery seventh flag was photographed on Tuesday and posted to the year group chat. Cynthia from room 4 reckons it's Lower Saxony. Nobody has asked Cynthia how she knows.