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Individual schools to decide whether to close as Cyclone Gabrielle approaches

Sunday, 12 February 2023

So many people sought out sandbags at stations across the city that supplies were depleted.

The Government will leave it to schools to decide whether to close as Cyclone Gabrielle approaches New Zealand.

“Boards and principals are in the best position to decide when it is safe for on-site teaching and learning,” the ministry’s chief executive and secretary for education Iona Holsted said on Sunday.

This decision will be left with schools to communicate with communities.

Holsted said she had received “regular updates and situation analysis from our staff on the ground, as well as emergency management operations across the motu”.

**READ MORE:

* Auckland schools 'preparing for the worst' as Cyclone Gabrielle nears

* Cyclone Gabrielle could hammer Coromandel with up to 300mm of rain in 24 hours

* Ministry of Education apologises for 'slow communication' on school closures

**

“It is clear that we are facing a severe and widespread event, with heavy rain warnings, associated flooding, high winds and power outages.

“I know you will have been following reports, including the need for people to avoid unnecessary travel and shelter in place if possible,” Holsted said.

However, later on Sunday afternoon following questions from Stuff, Holsted said that following a meeting with Auckland principals on the “updated impact and severity of Cyclone Gabrielle in Auckland, the Secretary for Education provided written support to school boards, kura and early learning centres to close if they considered it was not safe for on-site teaching and learning”.

It will be up to schools to decide whether to close due to the risk of Cyclone Gabrielle.
It will be up to schools to decide whether to close due to the risk of Cyclone Gabrielle.

“This is a fast-moving and emerging situation, and the purpose of the Secretary’s note was to support schools to confidently make decisions in light of the presenting risks.

“The Ministry will keep monitoring the latest information and will respond accordingly as the situation develops,” Holsted said.

Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said that whether schools should be open or closed is ultimately for them to decide – the same goes for businesses, he said.

Mercury Bay Area School was one of the first schools to may a decision to close.
Mercury Bay Area School was one of the first schools to may a decision to close.

Hipkins encouraged schools to follow locally-issued guidance, including considering issues around transportation.

In severe weather events, it is not just a question of whether it's safe to be at school, but also of getting to and from school.

'We don't want kids ending up being marooned at schools, for example.'

Chris Hipkins said that in severe weather events, it is not just a question of whether it
Chris Hipkins said that in severe weather events, it is not just a question of whether it's safe to be at school, but also of getting to and from school.

Mercury Bay Area School in Whitianga has announced that it will close on Monday and Tuesday and won't be doing online learning 'as we are assuming connection will be unreliable', a post said.

The school will reassess on Tuesday but if there are road closures it might be hard for staff to get to Whitianga on Wednesday and some year levels may move to online learning, the post said.

Whangamatā Area School will also be closed on Monday, in a decision they described as a last resort.

'The risks inherent in transit to and from school, alongside potential hazards moving around school, have led us to this decision,' a message from principal Alistair Luke said.

'We will not be offering a remote learning product tomorrow and encourage all households to prioritise safety as the worst of the weather passes through.

The school hopes to be able to reopen as soon as possible, he said, but will reassess on Monday afternoon.

On Sunday, MetService upgraded its forecast for Auckland to a 'red' heavy rain and wind warning. It is expecting 150mm to 200mm of rain between 10am on Sunday and 4am on Tuesday, and wind gusts up to 130kph.

The heaviest rain is expected on Monday, with 10 to 15mm of rain per hour, possibly peaking in the afternoon and evening at 25 to 40mm an hour.

The region north of Whangaparāoa is expecting up to 250mm of rain, with showers set to peak on Monday.

Earlier this month, the Ministry of Education apologised for “slow communication” about whether to close Auckland schools when torrential rain caused region-wide flooding.

Since then, the Ministry of Education have encountered a number of problems with their communication technologies.

While the Ministry of Education hasn't officially ordered schools to close, dozens of schools around Tāmaki Makaurau will be closed on Monday.

According to RNZ, the following list of schools have said they will be closed: