An Ohakune school has reversed a policy of locking the girls’ bathrooms and having access managed through supervised visits, which was put in place due to “improper disposal” of used sanitary products and drain blockage.
In an email sent to parents on Wednesday, seen by 1News, Ruapehu College principal Marama Allen said the school had locked the girls’ bathrooms for the foreseeable future due to “ongoing and serious misuse of the facilities”.
She said the school had been experiencing improper disposal of used sanitary products and “intentional blockage” of drains with tampons.
“This decision has not been made lightly, but the extent of the damage and lack of respect for shared spaces has required us to take action.”
The email said access to the toilets would be managed through supervised visits, with a teacher escorting the students to the bathroom, unlocking it, and checking it was clean when they were done.
Allen’s email said that while inconvenient, the policy was a “necessary step to ensure a safe, hygienic, and respectful environment for all students”.
“We would like to stress that while we have dedicated cleaners, they should not be expected to manage the type of mess that has been left behind.
“It is essential that students take personal responsibility for hygiene, respect for school property, and consideration for others who share the same space.”
The email sparked outrage from parents. One who spoke to the NZ Herald said she had to pull her daughter out of school for the day after she came home, desperate to use the bathroom.
Responding to questions from 1News yesterday, the school said it was “speaking with students so there is open and respectful dialogue about how we care for our shared spaces and each other”.
“These conversations are part of our ongoing commitment to listening, learning, and working together as a school community,” a statement read.
“We are proud of our students and value their voices. Their perspectives are essential in shaping a safe, inclusive environment where everyone feels respected and supported. We are also grateful to our parent community for engaging with us constructively and helping us uphold our ROCK college values of respect, honesty, confidence and to seek further knowledge.
“Our focus remains on building a culture of shared responsibility and positive engagement — one that reflects the strengths of our kura and the people within it.”
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Yesterday afternoon the principal sent a second email to parents, where she apologised to parents and retracted the policy.
“The message was inappropriate in both tone and content, and it did not reflect the values of care, respect, manaakitanga that we uphold within our school community.
“I want to reassure you that girls do have full access to toilet facilities.”
Allen acknowledged that the original email may have caused distress and frustration for students and families. She said the school was open to open and “constructive dialogue” to “ensure our actions and reflect the inclusive and respectful culture we all want for our kura”.
According to the Education Review Office in 2023, the co-ed high school had around 236 students in attendance.
