Secrecy around lost schoolgirl inquiry

Upset parents arrive at Ngamuwahine Lodge after 10 school children were lost in the Kaimais last night. Photo / Bay of Plenty Times

The outcome of an investigation into how 10 schoolgirls went missing from a camp in the Kaimais is not being made public.

Tauranga Intermediate School officials are refusing to say exactly how the girls became lost.

The students, part of a group of 50 being supervised by three staff and one parent, separated from the others on a bush walk near Ngamuwahine Lodge last week.

This triggered a search and rescue operation involving Land Search and Rescue, police, the police Eagle helicopter from Auckland and Tauranga's Trustpower TECT Rescue Helicopter.

The 10 and 11-year-old girls were found safe in plummeting temperatures eight hours later. They were 10km from their original location.

Principal Brian Diver said an inquiry had been conducted.

"I've got no further comment to make," Mr Diver said.

"As far as we are concerned, we have conducted our internal investigation and that's it.

"The incident is over now. I'm not trying to hide anything, that's not our style at the school, but I've got no further comment to make," he said.

When asked if all parents of the school would be told of the results of the inquiry, Mr Diver refused to comment.

He also declined to answer when asked about the fact that public money and resources had been spent on the search.

Tauranga Intermediate board of trustees chairwoman Pippa Smith said the board would also remain silent.

In a school newsletter dated May 30, the day after the search, Mr Diver referred to the search and mentioned the need to correct parent contact details.

"This has highlighted the need for up-to-date telephone records to be held at the school. If your phone number has changed please let us know by urgently filling out the form attached," the newsletter said.

At the time, police expressed concern for the girls, who were dressed in light clothing with no spare clothes or food.

Western Bay of Plenty area commander Inspector Clifford Paxton said yesterday the matter was now in the hands of the school.

It was the school's responsibility to speak to media, he said, not for police to comment on its behalf.

"The one thing that we are doing currently is we will debrief our response on the night, which I will facilitate, and will liaise with the school as far as any learnings from that," Mr Paxton said.

Many police officers were involved on the night in various roles, he said.