Royal commission finds Rototuna reading log dispute 'regrettable, yet instructive'
After 14 months, 47 witnesses, and one crying deputy principal, the Commission has delivered its findings.
School Gate
PTA factions, pickup-lane warfare at 3:15, and the sausage sizzle scandal that split a town. Every School Gate yarn we have filed, newest first — 63 stories, none of them true.
Oamaru PTA meeting enters sixth hour as thermos dad refuses to yield floor
He arrived with a two-litre Stanley and a laminated agenda no-one had asked for.
Spreydon PTA meeting enters fourth hour as Wellington transplant refuses to leave
She brought a two-litre thermos. Locals now understand this was a warning.
Royal commission finds Taupo primary mufti day $47.20 short
After 47 sitting days and one submission written in glitter pen, the Commission has reported back.
Highbury school lost property bin now deep enough to require 'archaeological assessment', parents told
Bottom layer predates the current principal. Possibly the current century.
Island Bay mum sets up camp at Paraparaumu PTA meeting, still there three hours later
She brought a thermos. She brought opinions. She brought a spare cardigan. Nobody's game to ask her to leave.
Gladstone crossing lady runs pickup lane like a corrections officer, parents quietly thrilled
Mrs Lorraine Beattie has been on the lollipop for six weeks. Idling times are down 40 percent. Nobody's laminated a complaint yet.
Maunu primary sock height row enters third week, PTA chair now measuring ankles
The policy says 'mid-calf'. One mum reckons that's a range. The chair reckons it's a line.
Blenheim PTA treasurer demands forensic audit after $3.50 goes walkabout
The sausage sizzle float was $3.50 light. Nobody's leaving the hall until someone owns up.
Greenmeadows school app fires 47 mufti day notifications before breakfast
By 8.14am one mum had turned her phone off and cried into a flat white.
Tamahere principal's newsletter now includes six stanzas of passive-aggressive poetry
Parents say the sonnet about the pickup lane is 'a bit much for a Wednesday'.
Crofton Downs reading log feud escalates to board of trustees, parents bring lever-arch folders
One family logged 47 minutes. Another logged 45. The board meets Thursday.
Levin school car park now a "diplomatic zone" at 3pm pickup
Two mums haven't spoken since a wing-mirror bump in April. A third is running peace talks via WhatsApp.
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.
Ashhurst school board meeting enters hour four as thermos parent refuses to cede floor
She brought soup. She brought printouts. The Chair brought regret.
Onehunga mum accused of "mufti day arms race" after sending son in full tuxedo
It was a gold coin donation. She brought a cummerbund.
Featherston PTA treasurer launches forensic audit over missing $3.50
The sausage sizzle reconciliation has entered its fourth week. Nobody is having a nice time.
Caversham primary bans glitter after incident board chair describes as "biblical"
Three weeks on, the Year 2 carpet still sparkles under fluorescent light. So do two teachers.
Spreydon school pick-up lane now requires two hi-vis parents, a whistle and a ceasefire
The PTA has appointed an unofficial envoy. She drives a Kluger.
Churton Park school bans glitter after hall incident deemed 'biblical'
Board of trustees has classified the stuff as a banned craft material. Cleaners are still finding it on the ceiling.