Fourteen-year-old Tegan Boxsell was to have a day at the office with her mum today as her teachers went on strike.
Joining her mother, Yasmin Gee, at St Andrews Church, Tegan was put to use as another pair of hands around the office.
Many year 9 students from around the country were off school today as teachers began rolling strikes over stalled pay talks with the Ministry of Education.
Mrs Gee, who has four children, said taking her daughter to work was a bit of an inconvenience, but she "completely understood where they [teachers] were coming from.
"All of them [Year 9 students] just want to hang out in town – to them it's just another day off school."
Legally, children under the age of 14 need to be supervised.
Year 11 students will be off school tomorrow, with further industrial action by teachers planned through to early December.
Marlborough Boys' College principal Wayne Hegarty said parents were told supervision would be available at the school for students, but did not know how many year 9 students would need it.
Queen Charlotte College principal Tom Parsons said all year 9 students were at camp for the week at Lake Rotoiti, so the strike action would not affect the school.
Post Primary Teachers Association (PPTA) president Kate Gainsford said on Monday that teachers decided to strike after the Government's latest offer fell flat with the PPTA national executive.
But Education Minister Anne Tolley said teachers were being unrealistic.
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