Schoolgirl speaks out about speech

Anela Pritchard, the 15-year-old Napier Girls' High student at the centre of a row over a speech she gave criticising her teachers, addresses the media in Clive this afternoon. Photo/Duncan Brown.

The schoolgirl at the centre of a row about a provocative speech has spoken out this afternoon.

Talking from her backyard in Clive, Hawkes Bay, Anela Pritchard, 15, she said had originally planned to give a speech on animal cruelty but changed her mind to speak about something she really believed in.

She said she was unfairly mistreated by Napier Girls' High School and has "no regrets" about her speech.

Anela said she was "overwhelmed" by the media response and the situation had "gotten out of control".

She said there was no resolution at a meeting between her father and the school yesterday and alleged the principal Mary Nixon had "railroaded" them in an attempt to deflate the situation.

Anela's father Andrew Pritchard said he remained "proud" of his daughter for standing up for herself and speaking her mind.

He said Anela had been suspended even if the school wasn't using that term.