Opunake High put in lockdown after bat brought onto school grounds during altercation

Opunake High School was put into a lockdown as a precaution yesterday, say police. Photo / Google

A Taranaki school was put into lockdown yesterday afternoon after a bat was brought onto the school grounds.

The bat was brought onto the grounds of Opunake High School by a member of the public after an altercation with students.

Opunake High School Board of Trustees chair Andy Whitehead said three students were involved in an initial altercation with a member of the public, after which a group came onto the school grounds.

One of the members of the public in the group had a bat, Whitehead said.

That bat was removed from them by a teacher, Whitehead said.

"The school was just put into lockdown as a precaution - there was no threat to students other than the ones who were involved in the initial altercation."

All students remained in supervised study during period four and were not allowed to go outside.

The police were called and they stayed on site to patrol the area to ensure the group did not return, Whitehead said.

There were no injuries and the school's response to the incident ran pretty smoothly, he said.

"The priority of course was the students on site at the time."

A police spokesman said police attended the school after the report of an altercation and the site remained on lockdown as a precaution for a short time.

Principal Peter O'Leary declined to comment when approached by the Herald.

Opunake High School is a co-educational secondary school that was established in 1925.