9 Comments on Watch those School “Donations” when you move to New Zealand.

William on Wed, 1st Jul 2009 6:48 pm


We were shocked to get a donation “request” from the school, and a bit angry too. (Well I was, my wife was much more fatalisitic about it)

One thing I don’t believe in taxing is education, and this is a tax on families to educate their kids.

I’d tax petrol, flying, electricity, roads… loads of stuff, but leave the kids alone.

Hubby on Thu, 2nd Jul 2009 10:29 pm


Hmm, classic case of do what we say (stop playing games), not what we do. Typical of teachers to try that one on.
It’s disgraceful that schools use this underhand tactic, and by doing so the schools risk being sued for slander & defamation of character. I suppose the school would consider anyone doing that to be ‘playing games’ to clear their names.

Sarah on Sun, 5th Jul 2009 9:57 pm


Thankfully my daughter’s school ask for around $100 a year, which isn’t a substantial amount, and it isn’t forced upon on – however we are happy to contribute as the staff go way beyond their call of duty in terms of hours and genuine heart-felt effort. There’s no uniform costs either. However, I can foresee senior school years being a little more expensive – gulp! Just as well we’ll be back on two incomes in the house by then!

Cam on Tue, 27th Oct 2009 11:50 am


We have to be careful here. The New Zealand Government expects schools to provide 1 in every 6 dollars of the necessary money they need for day to day operation themselves. The only way a school can make up this Government funding shortfall is by asking parents to pay fees. Now, some of the fees are compulsory – books, uniforms, resources etc… – however, other fees are ‘voluntary’. What you find is that lower decile schools are so cash strapped (the average funding deficit between decile 8 and decile 2 schools is $406000 a year in favour of the higher decile school) that the need for ‘voluntary’ donations to be paid is immense.
I certainly do not agree that schools should be using debt collection agencies to pressure parents into paying ‘volunatary’ fees, I mean the very nature of the fees is that they are meant to be ‘voluntary’, but desperate times often call for desperate measures.
I find it insulting, Hubby, that you would make a generalistic statement insinuating that teachers are hypocritical in a do what I say not what I do tactic. I am, after all, a teacher and I work incredibly hard both inside and outside of the classroom to educate students often with little or no available funding for resources, technology, and the necessary equipment and have to make-do with whatever is available.
Asking for donations is not ‘taxing’ education. It is simply a schools’ attempt at trying to redress what the New Zealand Government is failing to do – provide a ‘free’ education to all New Zealanders aged between 5 and 19. The real issue here is not that schools are asking for donations, but that they are forced to in order to survive.
Thank you Sarah for sticking up for teachers. It’s nice to know someone out there sees the effort and hours we put in for your kids.

Hubby on Wed, 28th Oct 2009 10:44 am


Hi Cam
Thanks for the comment & fair point.
I should have referred to ‘principals’ rather than teachers in the broader sense.
It’s still underhand for anyone, irrespective of whom they are, to call something a voluntary donation, and then demand it or take action with a credit reference agency.

I have no doubt that schools are in receipt of huge voluntary donations of time from all their staff, whether teachers, admin or support staff. That is clearly a personal choice on the part of those involved, and doesn’t normally involve ‘suggestions’ that if you (as a teacher) can’t for whatever reason ‘volunteer’ at a fund raising event for the weekend, that a caveat be placed on your house to collect the ‘contribution’ you would otherwise volunteer in time to be collected as cash instead.

Anything which is a demand, instead of a donation, is a Tax. In that I’m not being given a choice. Children have a right to free education, if Govt. isn’t funding schools sufficiently, that’s a policy issue which needs changing. Calling something a donation, instead of a fee is again deceptive and not really teaching children about honesty. If it’s something schools need to operate and stay running, then should call it a fee and make it mandatory.

My personal offense here is that on the one hand we have principals: Who are supposed to be leaders and setting an example to children, playing games and victimising both parents & children with credit reference agency rubbish. In an attempt to get Govt policy changed. And they accuse Govt. of ‘playing games’. That is a ‘do as I say not as I do thing’, just because a school principal may not think that their applications to a credit agency isn’t a game doesn’t make it so.

Why not go after the Govt. instead of the parents & children they frequently assert whose best interests they have at heart? Now I get that parents are an easier target than Govt. What sort of leadership and good will does it demonstrate to pick the ‘easier’ target though?

Annie on Wed, 28th Oct 2009 11:32 pm


A very belated contribution to this discussion as I have long since had to pay ‘voluntary’ donations to NZ schools (and in one instance insisted that the school accept my postdated cheque, or nothing at all. That was maybe 25 years ago though).

My thought is that if the government made these contributions tax-deductable then possibly there would be less resistance. Or parents who contribute their time to the school in various roles, school trips, lunchroom etc, being able to claim a tax deduction. I realise teachers have always given voluntary time also, maybe the same principle could apply there also.

Are parents able to drip-feed the ‘voluntary’ fees perhaps? The State schooling system should, along with health and law, be absolutely funded but that’s unlikely to happen in this day and age.

I very much enjoy coming back to this blog, cheers, Annie

Avalon on Sat, 31st Oct 2009 8:00 pm


Cam, thanks for the perspective – it heps to see things sometimes from the other side. I have to say though that not every comment on education and funding is an attack on teachers. Some do very good work – some should not be let anywhere near children’s education – but that has nothing to do with funding of schools and the bullying tactics of some schools and boards.

Anne, the “donations” are tax deductible, and a good friend of mine has explained to me that this is the exact reason that they are classed as Donations and not as Fees. By making part of the amount of money parents have to pay to the schools a “Donation” then some of the cost is offset as a Tax refund.

I can actually see th point and the benefit of that – the problem is that then the schools really cannot insist that people have to pay it or thier child will get kicked out of school.

I personally think that Governments should stop chucking money away on silly things and put it where it is needed. Until there are no illiterate children left – money should not be used to fund special interest groups and fashionable items and should be spent on basics like free education and proper public health.

jessica moore on Mon, 29th Aug 2011 9:32 pm


i can understand the donations being needed for the lower decile schools that get less funding from the government , they lack in sporting equipment play areas, and learning resources, the teachers, pta and principles go beyond there ability to try and get these children ready for the wider world. it is not the schools fault nor the teachers it is the government. we as parents and caregivers shouldn’t be concerned or upset about this when it has our children’s best interest in hand 100 dollars is less then a dollar a day to get your child educated. spend a little less on your pretty outfits and fancy meals your smoking or drinking habit or what ever you spend that little extra on and consider your child and there future. a happy school equals a happy kid, and a happy kid means they are more likely to want to stay in school and succeed. from a parent with a kid in a low decile school, currently trying to find ways to personally fundraise so the touch team can have uniforms the kids can have sandplay toys and the play ground can get an upgrade!! who happened to stumble across this while doing so.

Avalon on Mon, 29th Aug 2011 10:37 pm


Hi Jessica

a dollar a day is actually an awful lot of money for some people

You also cannot assume that if a parent cannot afford a dollar a day (which is Extra – on top of taxes they already pay) that it is becuase they are wasting money.

Yes – the government should pay for the schools – no argument there – it should never be left to parents to pay fake donations in lieu of proper funding. Fund raising for extras – well I see that as something different – but the basics should be covered. I guess if we wasted less tax of frivolous crap then we could afford decent – and free- schooling for everyone – no matter what socioeconomic area they come from. I really dont see why Low Decile schools should get less funding – that makes no sense to me at all

I guess I am coming from the point of view that NZ needs to stop selling itself to potential expats as having a free schooling system – when it actually doesnt

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