Rotorua principals positive as vaccine deadline approaches for school staff

The teacher vaccine mandate requires anyone who is in contact with children in an educational setting to be fully vaccinated by January 1. Photo / Getty Images

Rotorua school principals are confident the majority of their workforce will get the first dose of the vaccine before the mandated deadline later this month.

However, one principal, while supporting the mandate, said schools would lose staff as a result of it, and another said it was creating stress and anxiety for principals and boards.

The teacher vaccine mandate requires anyone who is in contact with children in an educational setting to be fully vaccinated by January 1. They must have had their first dose by November 15.

Rotorua Principals Association president Gary Veysi said the vaccine mandate presented "a bit of a moral dilemma".

"One (part) is looking after our tamariki, and that's really important. The other part of that is as schools we're going to lose staff members.

"On November 16, we may have places to fill."

Veysi, who is also the Mamaku School principal, said of about 20 staff at his school, three were yet to be vaccinated, he said.

Veysi said there would be meetings next week with those staff about their decision and what systems could be put in place for them, he said.

Leave without pay until they decided to get vaccinated was an option, he said.

Rotorua Lakes High School principal Jon Ward said he was "expecting to have all staff vaccinated" by the deadline.

"We are tracking staff vaccinations, and that is what it's tracking towards."

Rotorua Lakes High School principal Jon Ward. Photo / NZME

This was a "relief" from a school management perspective but he empathised with staff who struggled to make the decision.

"It is not necessarily everybody's choice, but I know it is needed."

John Paul College principal Patrick Walsh said a small number of school staff had not been vaccinated but the majority were complying with the mandate.

He said it was an "extremely difficult time" for principals and boards as the school year ended.

"It is adding a layer of stress and anxiety for principals and boards," he said.

"We value our teachers, we don't want to lose any.

"I hope it doesn't get to that. If it does we think the numbers would be small enough to be able to manage."

Rotorua Principals Association president Gary Veysi. Photo / Supplied

Rotorua Primary School principal Fred Whata said "close to 100 per cent" of staff had already had at least had their first dose.

But a handful were yet to make a decision.

"We are working alongside them. We want to support everyone and help them with their personal choice."

Only two staff at Rotorua Intermediate were yet to have their first dose. Both were seeking advice.

Principal Garry de Thierry said overall staff were "conscious of their responsibility for keeping everyone safe".

Rotorua Intermediate School principal Garry de Thierry. Photo / NZME

Rotorua Girls High Principal Sarah Davis could not provide the ratio as to how many staff were vaccinated and said they would have a clearer picture closer to November 15.

They had not yet received vaccination certificates from some staff, she said.

However, a school vaccine clinic last week saw "several" staff receive either their first or second dose.

Owhata School principal Bob Stiles said he was not aware of any staff members that had not yet been vaccinated.

Lynmore School principal Hinei Taute said "most" staff were already double vaccinated, which was "fantastic".

Results from a survey sent out to staff about vaccination status indicated that the "few" who had not received their first jab would get it done before the deadline.

"You hope things are going to work out well, and for our community here it certainly has. It can be an anxious time, but I was so pleased that our community know health and safety are paramount.

"I don't see it being a barrier for us at Lynmore."

The Ministry of Education was asked what plans were in place if schools could not open as a result of staff leaving.

In response, the ministry's education workforce leader Anna Welanyk said the ministry was working with schools that needed help to meet staffing needs.

The Ministry of Education did not hold vaccination status information.

A Ministry of Health spokesperson said it was the responsibility of the employer to keep their own records on the vaccination status of their workers under the new mandatory Health Order.

Post Primary Teachers' Association Te Wehengarua president Melanie Webber said field officers were providing support to members who chose not to get vaccinated.

NZEI Te Riu Roa president Liam Rutherford said there was still "a lot of uncertainty" about how many educators would leave the profession as a result of the vaccine mandate.