Sunset Rd was waterlogged during the downpour outside Sunset Primary School. Photo / Stephen Parker
Sunset Rd was waterlogged during the downpour outside Sunset Primary School. Photo / Stephen Parker
Many Rotorua schools battled severe flooding in their grounds yesterday with some closing for the day and others advising parents to keep children home.
Chapman College closed early yesterday morning and the Ministry of Education confirmed both Te Kura Kaupapa o Te Koutu and Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Hurungaterangi closed for the day.
Image 1 of 27: Rotorua flooding. Old Taupo Road Photo/Ben Fraser
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Rotorua Girls' High School will be closed today and tomorrow because of flooding, which caused the boiler to fail.
Chapman College yesterday. Photo posted to our Facebook page by Lauryn Hinekarangi Williams
Chapman College principal Graham Preston said by 7am there were signs of flooding, by 7.30am it had become problematic and by 7.45am he had decided to close the school.
"The key issue for us was flooding outside the school. We are surrounded by stormwater drains which overflowed, leaving the school in about half a metre of water."
Mr Preston said there were also major roof leaks and water was lapping inside the entrance.
"The main reason I decided to close the school was because the kids had no indoor or outdoor access. We made the call early enough that we were able to alert all parents before kids were dropped off."
Mr Preston said water levels started to subside by noon yesterday.
Sunset Primary School principal Niels Rasmussen decided to keep the school open despite some severe flooding during the downpour.
"I talked to the board chair and we decided the children who were already at school would be better served staying where they were dry and warm rather than trying to get back home in dangerous conditions."
Mr Rasmussen said he advised parents who had not yet dropped their children off to keep them home.
"The worst of it was over by mid-morning and a lot of the flooding had receded by noon."
John Paul College principal Patrick Walsh had to reschedule morning exams after several students failed to get to school.
The fields at Rotorua Boys' High School. Photograph by Ben Fraser
"The carpark flooded and water was flowing into our grounds from Kahu St, which was starting to look like a river."
Mr Walsh said the most concerning flooding was around the school gymnasium.
"The flooding got to the point where we had to call the fire brigade who were very helpful with draining some of the excess water around the gym and pumping it into the nearby stream."
