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"Very widespread": Schools call for more support as restraint incidents rise

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Tue, 2 Jun 2026, 10:50am
Photo / File
Photo / File

"Very widespread": Schools call for more support as restraint incidents rise

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Tue, 2 Jun 2026, 10:50am

Growing calls for more learning support staff as teachers increasingly resort to physically restraining students with high needs. 

The Ministry of Education has recorded almost 9,400 restraint incidents since 2023. 

Auckland Primary Principals' Association President Lucy Naylor told Francesca Rudkin last year's $750 million learning support boost is only just reaching schools. 

She says more specialist staff are needed to prevent incidents. 

Naylor says it feels like a band-aid situation currently, where schools are managing how they can. 

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