Novopay has paid a group of John Paul College staff $26,000 for their summer break - however the group doesn't work at the school.
John Paul College principal Patrick Walsh said the school was astounded to find the additional $26,000 removed from its operation grant during last week's payroll. He said the large sum had been given, without instruction from the school, to a group of part-time staff who left the school in August after working with international students.
"What is worse is Novopay are asking us to recover the money," Mr Walsh said.
Novopay is the schools' payroll service. Australian company Talent2 took over the Ministry of Education's payroll contract at the start of September and is responsible for paying 85,000 teaching and support staff fortnightly.
Mr Walsh said their operation grant was topped up by the Ministry of Education each quarter, and when it ran dry it was the school's responsibility to find extra money to pay wages.