Aucklander complains over school allowing Jewish Holocaust victim costume at athletics day

A student from Liston College dressed in a 'Holocaust victim' costume at school athletics day yesterday. Photo / Supplied

A Bosnian living in Auckland is disgusted over a Holocaust victim costume worn by a student to his high school athletics day.

The clothing worn to athletics day at Liston College on Wednesday was spotted by the Aucklander on social media later that morning.

The student was dressed in blue striped pyjamas and roman sandals, with a yellow Star of David pinned to his chest.

The striped uniform with a yellow star was worn by Jews in Nazi concentration camps.

The person who spotted the post did not want to be named but said he was horrified.

The 23-year-old said he wouldn't have expected the costume would be allowed at a Catholic high school.

Wanting to ensure the school knew about the offending outfit, he said he phoned them to complain.

When he spoke to a receptionist at the school he was told that, because it was athletics day, students were allowed to dress up, he said.

A student from Liston College dressed in a ' Holocaust Vicitm ' costume at school athletics day 22 February 2018. The striped uniform with a yellow star was worn by Jews in Nazi concentration camps i

He went on to explain why he felt the costume was inappropriate and was told his message would be passed on to the dean.

"Especially with [my] family coming from Bosnia, we understand, you know, war victims and all that kind of stuff."

Liston College Board of Trustees chairman Ralph Elika said the student in question was sent home as soon as he was spotted wearing the outfit and was undergoing a "restorative justice" process through the school.

Elika described the incident as a "prank that backfired" and agreed the costume was "highly inappropriate" and offensive both to other students at the school and to members of the public who saw the costume in photos.

"It was a silly act that was intended to be a joke," he said. "The boy thought he was onto a winner but failed miserably."

Elika said the school had a strict policy around both uniform and costumes.

Last October, a Halloween costume of Holocaust victim Anne Frank ignited outrage and prompted several retailers to stop selling the item.

The costume featuring a green beret, a blue coat and a brown satchel was originally sold on a website.

Following a barrage of criticism online and from the Anne Frank Centre for Mutual Respect, the company concerned issued a statement apologising for any offence the costume has caused.