Schools have uniforms for a reason and cannot cater to all the "latest fashion fads" of students, a Rotorua principal says.
The issue gained attention after Motueka High School Year 11 student Jennifer Guthrie, 15, started a petition on Facebook calling on the school's board of trustees to allow students to wear puffer jackets to school.
The petition stated the school's uniform was not warm enough and students who wore their puffer jackets to school had them confiscated and "the wearer can possibly receive a detention".
Rotorua Lakes High School principal Bruce Walker said the school had a similar problem last year with students wearing puffer jackets over their uniform.
"We took it as an opportunity to reassess our uniform and gave students and parents four options for winter jackets. Due to its popularity, we made two of those options puffer jackets, however in the end the majority voted for a different style."