School's effort to keep pupils safe stymied

A Northland high school's efforts to keep its pupils safe has been stymied by red tape.

Whangarei District Council says barbed wire on Kamo High School's perimeter fence breaches bylaws and has ordered it removed.

On Friday principal Bernie Taffs received a letter from the council telling him the school was required to take down the barbed wire fence within 10 days.

A clause in the district plan prevents boundary fences in selected areas being fortified with barbed wire, broken glass or any form of electrification.

Mr Taffs told the Northern Advocate the barbed wire was erected on top of the fence about two years ago to prevent non-students entering the school.

"We're trying to keep our kids safe. . . definitely not trying to barricade them in or anything."

But he was happy to comply with the council rules if necessary: "If push comes to shove, we have to be reasonable. We have someone looking into it for us."

Northland Secondary Schools Principals' Association chairman Wayne Buckland, of Bream Bay College, said he knew of no schools where barbed wire on fences was an issue.

Most schools, including his own, had erected barbed wire along the top of their school pool fences to help prevent possible drownings.

Whangarei District Council compliance team leader Gary Barnsley said the clause was created for health and safety reasons for properties in selected business and residential areas.

In the case of Kamo High School, he said, the rule was a catch-22 as the fortification was designed to protect students, but the clause applied to everybody.

Mr Barnsley said if the school refused to comply, an abatement notice then an infringement notice would be sent, which would come with a $750 fine.

- NZPA