Cyclone closes schools & ECE centres across North Island

Media Release

13 April 2017

Cyclone Cook closes 137 schools and 133 early learning centres across the North Island

Updated information as at 10.15am

Severe wet weather caused by Cyclone Cook has now closed 137 schools and 133 early learning centres across the North Island, affecting 34,232 school children and 4339 pres-schoolers.

Those closed include: 10 schools and four early childhood centres (ECEs) in Northland, 16 schools and 11 ECEs in Auckland, 24 schools and 33 ECEs in the Waikato, and 87 schools and 133 ECEs in the Bay of Plenty/Taupo area. (Please see http://www.education.govt.nz/?Our-websites for a full list)

Schools and ECEs in the already sodden Eastern Bay of Plenty – those in the Whakatane, Opotiki and Kawerau districts – as well as those in Thames, Coromandel, and some coastal areas of Auckland were yesterday advised to close today, Ministry of Education deputy secretary of Sector Enablement and Support Katrina Casey says.

“With the worst of the weather expected to hit Western areas of the Bay of Plenty from late this afternoon or early evening, we have also advised schools and ECEs those areas to close by 1pmtoday. A number of schools have chosen to voluntarily close ahead of this and parents are advised to check with their schools.

“Decisions around school closures are not made lightly but with weather conditions set to continue, the ability for students to make it safely to and from school is everyone’s paramount concern,” Katrina Casey says.

* The Ministry’s website will be updated as the situation unfolds during the day.

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