Karnin Ahorangi Petera died during a school trip to Abbey Caves on 9 May. Photo: RNZ / Tom Taylor
The school at the centre of a caving tragedy in which a boy died has resumed taking students on ordinary school trips after a discussion with WorkSafe, but outdoor education trips remain suspended.
Year 11 student Karnin Ahorangi Petera died on 9 May after being trapped in a cave that rapidly filled with water while he was on a class trip with 14 other students.
That trip went ahead during a heavy rain warning and questions have been asked about why the students were allowed to go.
In a letter to parents sent on Wednesday, Whangārei Boys High School principal Karen Gilbert-Smith said WorkSafe has said there is nothing in the school's documentation that gives it discomfort about regular school trips.
"Therefore, while we will not resume outdoor education class trips at this time, we are now in a position to confirm that all other off-site trips can now go ahead as scheduled," she wrote.
"If your son is struggling for any reason we encourage boys or parents to make contact with their whānau teacher, a dean, or Te Awatea, the well-being centre, where we have trained counsellors on hand to help if needed."
Gilbert-Smith said the school has also asked Education Outdoors New Zealand to review all its outdoor education procedures.
"Our school is committed to supporting these investigations so that everyone directly impacted by this tragic incident, along with our school whānau and wider community, have an independent understanding of the events of the day.
"There needs to be clarity around how this happened and what can be learnt so that any similar incidents do not happen again in the future at any school."
