King's College in mourning after student's death

David Gaynor is the fourth King's college student to die in less than 18 months. Photo / supplied

King's College today kept a candle burning in its Auckland chapel for student David Gaynor, who died following the school's ball on Saturday night.

David, 17, son of prominent business commentator, columnist and company director Brian Gaynor, died after being taken home from the prestigious Auckland school's annual ball at the Eden Park function centre.

He was found critically injured at Greenlane Bridge, south of the central city, a short time later and rushed to Auckland Hospital, where he died.

His death has fuelled debate about the New Zealand youth drinking culture, and has also shone a spotlight once again on the decile 10 school in south Auckland, where three other students have died in the past year.

School chaplain Reverend Warner Wilder said it was an extremely difficult time for the school, and floods of students had been going through the chapel today to grieve for Gaynor.

"It's been a huge day, a heavy day. We had a full school assembly this morning in which we said a prayer and lit a candle for David and that candle is on the altar in the chapel. The chapel has been a busy place today."

Counsellors had also been making themselves available to students, many of whom had been "hit for six" by the news of Gaynor's death.

Rev Wilder described suggestions there was a drinking culture at the school as "way off the mark".

"I'm not saying our students don't drink - of course they do, teenagers do. But to say that there's a culture at King's I think is very, very misleading. It's a problem which exists across the board in society."

Former Fonterra chief executive boss Craig Norgate reportedly hosted a pre-ball function where beer, wine and champagne was served to about 100 people, including David and fellow students.

Mr Norgate said none of the students were intoxicated when they left in limousines for the ball.

Headmaster Bradley Fenner said in statement today the school had a zero tolerance policy towards the use of drugs and alcohol.

The school had also "robustly strengthened its education programmes for students and families over the last year", he said.

This included bringing in expert psychologists to speak with the King's College community and to provide advice about the issue.

Prime Minister John Key, whose son Max is a student at King's College, told a post-cabinet press conference today that it appeared the school had upheld all its responsibilities as ball host, and had demanded that it was alcohol and drug free.

"In my experience there is nothing unique or different about King's College to any of the other schools around the country.

"We need to acknowledge that, in terms of young people, we need to make progress in improving the drinking culture and we need to acknowledge there is a drug culture and we need to stand up very strongly against it."

Mr Key said he had picked his son up after the ball and was "totally satisfied" it had been safe.

"I can confirm there were a lot of young girls whose shoes were giving them grief because they were walking along and carrying them, and lots of young men with ties at half mast, but I didn't see anyone who was obviously under the influence of anything."

Three students from King's College died last year, including James Webster, 16, who collapsed unconscious after drinking spirits at a birthday party in Auckland in May. He was taken to a friend's home to sleep it off but was found dead the next morning.

In the same month Michael Treffers, 15, died in hospital after falling from an Auckland motorway bridge.

In February of that year William Thode, also 15, died in his sleep from a rare viral heart disease.

- NZPA