A Facebook counter page has been set up after students from Christchurch's Burnside High School created one attacking their new principal.

The 'I hate Burnside's new Principal' site had more than 300 members before it was deleted yesterday afternoon. The page contained x-rated and highly aggressive dialogue towards Warwick Maguire.

However, a number of those members were also criticising the actions of the students and said they had only joined the page to express those thoughts.

Joy Clark, whose son attended Wanganui High School, where Mr Maguire was formerly principal, has set up a page in support. She says it is called 'Warwick Maguire is a great principal and a good man.'

Ms Clark's group now has nearly 200 members, most of whom are former or current students from Wanganui High School. She says while young people might not always like what authority figures want them to do, it is hard to believe they would be so rude.