Jo WalsheA petition to Parliament by an Oamaru school principal is seeking to restrict media reporting on school incidents, councillors have been told. Recent media coverage of incidents at St Kevin’s and Waitaki Girls’ High School was highlighted as a reason behind the need for legislation. The school leader wrote to Waitaki MP Miles Anderson sharing her ‘‘deep concern’’ about reporting causing ‘‘significant harm’’ to young people. The principal further claimed the media reports undermined school processes and distorted public perception. Cr Courtney Linwood said she supported the move but added that it was not the media writing the stories, but rather the commentary that followed the stories on social media which were the issue, arguing the community could ‘‘benefit from social media training’’.

Source: Otago Daily Times April 08, 2026 17:35 UTC