You can take your claim to the school’s board if it is about abuse or neglect that happened at:
You can do this by contacting the board chairperson or school principal.
Find contact details for state schoolsopen_in_new that are still operating.
To make a claim about a private (independent) school, contact the school’s governing body (which may or may not be a school board).
State schools are funded by the government and managed by the Ministry of Education. These include state-integrated schools.
State-integrated schools are schools that used to be private but are now part of the state system. They have a ‘special character’ (usually a philosophical or religious belief). These schools are funded by the government but usually also charge compulsory fees.
If the abuse is happening right now, you (or your parents/guardians or the school board or governing body) can also make a complaint to the Police.
The process of making a claim can be challenging. We encourage you to find the support that is right for you. We have some suggestions on this website about support for your wellbeing and support to help you with the claim process.
If you want to make a claim for abuse or neglect about a state school that is still open, the Ministry of Education can help you contact the school board:
Email: Enquiries.National@education.govt.nz
Faith-based schools that have their own redress programmes include:
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