Student blocked from wearing colander as 'religious headwear' hits back

A teenager was reportedly told to remove a colander from his head for a school photo. Photo / Reddit

An Auckland secondary school student who hit back at his college after he was banned from wearing a colander as a religious headdress believes he has gone too far.

The Pakuranga College pupil was blocked from wearing a colander on his head and claimed staff had breached his human rights.

The 15-year-old reportedly claimed he was a member of the Pastafarian religion - a movement started in the United States and which has reached New Zealand in the form of the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster.

In the student's original social media post last week he said that the school allowed "other students to wear headwear" in their photos.

But the school refused to budge with the student, making the teen remove his colander.

Principal Michael Williams said the situation had "been resolved amicably and happily", however the student refuted the claims saying there has been "no resolution whatsoever".

"The school and my parents were pretty upset I took it to social media.

"I am still complaining to the Human Rights Commission to sort things out."

Despite his strong stance against the colander ban, the student told the Herald he now believes he "went too far" with his original Facebook post.

He revealed to the Herald that he was asked to delete his original Facebook post and agreed to do so.

A number of Kiwis have questioned the teen's motives behind his actions, with one asking if the complaint is "really worth it".

But the student has stood firm, saying he's doing this to fight discrimination and to promote the equal rights of all religions in New Zealand.

"It's worth it because if I don't stand up for my rights then what's the point in having them?

"I'm doing this to honor the hard work of people who fought for my rights, I'm doing this because I am a being discriminated and that's not OK.

"Pastafarians have fought hard to become a recognised religion and yet we still get treated like this.

"New Zealand is one of the most supportive countries in the world of pastafarianism yet this still occurs. All religions should get equal rights or they don't get any rights at all."

The church is represented by the Flying Spaghetti Monster. Picture / Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster New Zealand

Pastafarianism is a social movement that promotes a light-hearted view of religion.

It is legally recognised as a religion in New Zealand and the Netherlands, where Pastafarian representatives have been authorised to celebrate weddings.

The group was formed in 2005 as a protest against efforts in Kansas public schools to teach not only evolution but also "intelligent design" - the idea that the universe had a creator.