Schools battle over zones in city fringe

City-fringe schools are in crisis talks over shrinking zones.

High-decile Auckland schools Pt Chevalier and Gladstone Primary are in talks with the Ministry of Education about reducing catchment areas.

But parents are calling for other solutions, including either a new school or for intermediate schools to accommodate Years 1-6.

Former TVNZ presenter Neil Waka is on the board of trustees at Pt Chevalier School, which his two daughters attend.

He said reducing the zone would divide the tight-knit community.

"A lot of families have moved into the area to send their kids to a great school but ... we are close to bursting point."

Pt Chevalier School principal Sandra Aitken said the school would reach its capacity of 700 pupils by the end of the year.

"We are going to be at 800 before you know it," Aitken said.

Parents at nearby Gladstone Primary had set up a Facebook page opposing rezoning.

Many voiced concerns about a drop in property values if some streets were cut from the zone.

The Ministry of Education confirmed it had ordered Gladstone to amend its enrolment scheme, with any zone changes finalised by September and enforced in the first term of next year.

Principal of Westmere Primary, Pt Chevalier resident Carolyn Merino, said a new school was the only option.

"There needs to be a local solution. We can't have children bused out of the area," she said.