Nineteen Rotorua students suspended

Nineteen Rotorua Lakes High School students have been suspended or stood down for drinking alcohol and smoking cannabis at a school camp.

The incident has prompted a review of the way the camps are run.

The Year 10 students were on a three-day camp at the Okataina Outdoor Education Centre, 33km northeast of Rotorua.

Principal John Ellis, who was in Wellington at the time, said the four staff who were at the camp became suspicious that students had access to alcohol.

Staff fears were confirmed after a water bottle filled with Coke and bourbon was discovered.

The following day acting principal Wayne Hall and deputy principal Ali Painter went to the camp and spent the day interviewing students.

As a result of their inquiry 16 students were stood down, most for two days.

A further three students, all boys, were suspended. Two of those students had smuggled the alcohol into the camp while the third had sneaked in a "small amount" of cannabis.

More than 40 students attended the camp.

Mr Ellis described the incident as an "extreme disappointment" for the school.

To their credit most of the students were remorseful and admitted their involvement, he said.

- Daily Post