A South Auckland primary school has been told to stop charging a $20-a-year photocopying "fee".
An Education Review Office report says Takanini School's fee became apparent during a review this year.
But principal Linda Kelly told the Herald it was not a "fee" as there was no compulsion
to pay it.
"Most schools make a donation and we have the word 'fee' there instead of 'donation'," she said.
"We are aware of the terminology. I don't know how it happened but it just slipped through."
The wording had been altered.
Ms Kelly said the decile-one school did not chase up students if the photocopying money was not paid and was aware of hardship the families of many of its 400 pupils faced.
"A number of our children, we pay for their entire stationery - we give it to them so that they have got books."
Ms Kelly said the ERO report was incorrect when it claimed students who bought stationery at school were charged the fee but not those who shopped elsewhere.
The report said the supplying of worksheets and other photocopied material was considered to be included in children's rights to free education.
The ERO asked the board of trustees to ensure that any request for money for photocopying was on a transparent and voluntary basis.
The report identified "significant positive developments" in many areas at the school and said managers and staff had worked hard.
"It is of particular credit to staff and students that although this review took place at the beginning of the second week of school for the year, students were settled in their classes and participating with enjoyment in learning programmes."
The distinction between fees and donations has hit the headlines several times over the years.
Macleans College in Bucklands Beach caused a stir last year when it moved to charge students more to go to the ball, the graduation dinner and on sporting trips if their parents had not paid their school donation.
The Education Minister at the time, Steve Maharey, said it did not appear to run foul of ministry guidelines, which state that when schools are attempting to recover donations, "no student should be publicly harassed or denied information or privileges available to other students".
