Bay of Plenty parents plead guilty to charges of failing or refusing to ensure children enrolled at school
A Bay of Plenty couple has become the first to be prosecuted under New Zealand's Education and Training Act 2020 for failing to enroll their children in school. Despite multiple interventions and warnings from the Ministry of Education, the parents refused to ensure their children's consistent education.
Why it matters
This case marks a significant legal precedent in enforcing compulsory education laws and addressing rising truancy rates.
An Eastern Bay of Plenty couple with two teenagers are the first to be prosecuted under new legislation targeting truancy.
The pair, who had failed to show up at court at an earlier appearance, stood holding hands in the dock in the Whakatāne District Court on Tuesday.
The Education and Training Act 2020 says it is an offence if a parent of a person required to be enrolled at a registered school fails or refuses to ensure that the person is enrolled.
The parent is liable, on conviction, to a fine not exceeding $3000.
The Eastern Bay of Plenty couple, who are the parents of two teenage children, pleaded guilty to failing or refusing to ensure their children were enrolled.
A summary of facts said the young teens were previously enrolled at a primary school, but had declining attendance since Covid-19.
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