Planking out at Taranaki school

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A south Taranaki school has sought to nip planking in the bud before someone gets hurt.

Hawera High School principal Hans Konlechner told Newstalk ZB that while the school has not "banned" planking, students have been told the new craze was not to happen at the school.

"We generally find we do better with the students if we talk to them about the reasons for particular behaviours not to be happening here, rather than going hard out with a ban," Mr Konlechner said.

"We just thought we would nip this in the bud before it got any bigger."

Planking, which simply involves lying down on your front with your arms at your side and your head down, got worldwide media attention after 20-year-old Brisbane man Acton Beale plunged seven storeys to his death after attempting to plank a balcony railing in Sydney last week.

Another 20-year-old, New South Wales man Simon Hallam, is in a coma after the car he was planking on top of stopped suddenly, sending him flying on to the road,Nine News reported.

Mr Konlechner said no one at the school had heard about the craze until Mr Acton's death.

The school's first planking incident was the following day.

"There was a ledge up on the side of a building a lad choose to plank on and have himself photographed. One of the teachers who was on duty spotted him and chased him down," he said.

Mr Konlechner said while planking in itself is not dangerous, the places young people choose to perform the stunt can be.

"I guess to attract the attention you have to be in a fairly odd spot. It's the fact that students are placing themselves high up over concrete that is the issue.

"We are fortunate to live in south Taranaki here and we've got surfing, and tramping on the mountain, very strong rugby and netball. There are plenty of opportunities to use energy well and most of the kids do."

Mr Konclechner expected other schools would follow suit in prohibiting planking.

"I would imagine, as this school has, if students are placing themselves at risk schools will exercise their duty of care and discuss with them the need not to do so."

- with Newstalk ZB