Parents left worried and without answers during school's four-hour lockdown

Parents say they were left worried and confused as they waited for information from New Plymouth Boys’ High School during its four-hour lockdown yesterday.

Armed police were called to the school about 9.50am after a verbal threat was made, and the school was instructed to go into lockdown.

Police deployed substantial resources after the threat, including the Armed Offenders Squad as a precaution.

The incident halted the school’s first day of NCEA exams.

Police are investigating and have not given details about the threat.

Throughout the morning, several police cars and armed officers were stationed at school gates on Coronation Ave, blocking different entries and exits into the college.

More armed police were on a nearby corner.

Students could be seen in their classrooms as the lockdown went into its third hour.

Multiple parents have complained to the Herald about a lack of communication from the school.

A parent of a Year 10 student told the Herald she found out about the lockdown from a community Facebook group.

Her son then messaged her from under his desk.

He shared a video of a police officer and a dog outside his classroom, which concerned her. Adding to her worry was when her son was instructed to stop messaging her because of the school’s lockdown rules.

The mother said the only information from the school during the lockdown was a scrolling banner at the bottom of the school’s website, advising of the lockdown and urging parents to stay away.

“To be honest, with my mum hat on, I wouldn’t think to check a website.”

She and her husband were left wondering what happened next after the website was updated to say the lockdown was lifted.

“A wee message to say everyone is safe and that the afternoon will proceed as normal would’ve been nice.”

Armed police officers at New Plymouth Boys' High School on Tuesday.

At 3.13pm, about an hour after the lockdown was lifted, parents received an email from school headmaster Sam Moore.

The email said the school had been instructed by police to lock down as a precaution following a verbal threat to the police regarding the high school.

After police assessed the school, classes resumed after a school assembly, while students who were supposed to sit NCEA exams in the morning were sent home. They would receive derived grades.

“As a reminder, to ensure the safety of our students and staff during an emergency, please refrain from calling or coming to the school, as our team will be unable to respond,” Moore’s email said.

Another parent told the Herald yesterday’s experience was worrying, confusing and frustrating. Her son texted her to say he thought he might die.

The mother immediately checked Facebook, her emails and the school app, but there was no information.

She didn’t hear anything further from her son as they were told to stay off their phones, which she only found out after picking him and her nephew up.

“It was stressful that school is terrible when it comes to communication.”

She said an update sent directly to parents would’ve helped calm the panic and prevented them from going to the school, which many did.

Students under their desks during the lockdown.

The Herald has approached the school for comment multiple times.

The first NCEA exams of 2026 were scheduled for 9.30am yesterday, including Level 1 mathematics and statistics and Level 2 geography.

The New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) deputy chief executive of assessment Jann Marshall told the Herald that students were unable to complete their exams and NZQA is working with the school to support the students through the derived grade process.

“The safety of students and staff is the top priority. Each school has its own processes for managing a security lockdown, and these continue to apply during the exam period.”