Undie run date under wraps

Rumours are rife about an undie run to celebrate the end of the school year but so far Tauranga pupils have been able to keep the timing of the event secret.

The annual end-of-year event, in which students from Tauranga Boys' College and Tauranga Girls' College run through each other's schools in their underwear, is expected to occur this week.

The biggest question surrounding the informal event is when it will be staged, according to students spoken to by the Bay of Plenty Times. One Tauranga Boy's College student said it wasn't a matter of if, it was a matter of when.

"It's been going for as long as I can remember. It's supposed to be happening some time this week," the Year 13 student said. "It's a bit of fun between us and the girls' college. They put shaving cream on our cars so there was some retaliation and we egged their cars. We got told off for that, though," he said.

A Tauranga Girls' College student who was hit by a flying egg in last year's end-of-school antics said most Year 13 students took part in the informal activity, although it was not compulsory.

"In the past, [Boys' College students] have put their urine into water guns and thrown dead, rotting fish at people. They chucked eggs one year and I was unfortunate enough to get hit."

And the girls retaliated, she said. "One year, we had a huge water hose and we squirted them when they ran through the school."

She was aware past students had been disciplined for their actions but that didn't stop students from continuing the tradition.

"We do it because it's a bit of fun and for a bit of interaction with the boys' college. It's not supposed to be offensive ... and as long as no one gets hurt then I think it should continue to happen and the schools should allow it."

Another Year 13 Boys' College student, who did not want to be named, said some students burnt their school uniforms the day after school finished to celebrate the end of their high school learning.

Tauranga Boys' College principal Robert Mangan said he wasn't aware of any unplanned activities that weren't supported by the school. Tauranga Girls' College principal Pauline Cowens could not be contacted for comment.

NCEA and Scholarship examinations begin on Friday, November 9.