'Recipe for crisis': Schools warn rising restraints reflect system under strain

Author: Jaime Cunningham,
Publish Date: Tue, 2 Jun 2026, 5:00am

School staff have physically restrained students more than 9,000 times since new guidelines were introduced in 2023 - an average of 15 incidents a day.

Ministry of Education figures, released under the Official Information Act, show there were 9,378 incidents of physical force used on students over the period.

Annual cases rose to 3,099 in 2024 and 2,966 in 2025, up from 2,647 when records began in 2018.

The Ministry said physical restraint is a last resort, only to be used to prevent imminent harm where there is no other option, and where the response is reasonable and proportionate.

A Physical Restraint Advisory Group developed new rules and guidelines in 2022, which went through public consultation involving 268 submissions. Engagement also included children, young people, whānau, parents, the Youth Advisory Group, and disability organisations.

The framework, Aramai He Tētēkura, was gazetted in February 2023 and is supported by compulsory online training for school staff focused on de-escalation, early recognition of distress, and preventative strategies.

So far this year, there have been 638 reported incidents.

Auckland accounted for 23% of cases (696) last year, followed by Canterbury at 20% (595).

The majority of incidents took place at primary schools (2110).

Lower Hutt’s Arakura School principal Tute Mila says the combination of factors driving the rise is a “recipe for crisis,” as schools manage increasingly complex needs with limited support.

The NZEI national executive member says schools are being stretched by limited access to specialist support, training, and professional development, making it harder to consistently manage student needs.

“The other, compounding, factor is the inadequacy of learning support help.”

She said the education system is struggling to keep up with demand.

“And so you’ve got teachers, trying to deal with multiple situations on their own.”

The Government announced what it called the biggest investment in learning support in a generation last year, with $750 million going towards resources.

But educators say pressure has continued, with an UpliftED report finding wait lists persist, schools are covering funding gaps, and staff remain stretched beyond capacity a year on.

An Aotearoa Educators Collective survey also identified learning support as a top Budget priority, but it saw little additional funding.

The NZ Principals’ Federation notes schools are absorbing the shortfall, as one Auckland school received $68,000 in learning support funding but spends triple that, while another spends $430,000 on teacher aides and still can’t meet demand.

Mila said stronger classroom support would make a significant difference, particularly through trained teacher aides able to intervene early and de-escalate situations.

“A skilled person in the classroom, more teacher aides in every class. That’s what will make a difference to this.”

She said schools are increasingly focused on prevention rather than intervention, including trauma-informed and neurodiversity-aware approaches to behaviour.

But she says the system is still struggling to keep up.

“I’m not surprised that the numbers are so high. It’s really disappointing.”

“Especially when the sector has been asking for teacher aides in the classroom, asking for support and learning support and instead, we get curriculum changes and more books and resources.”

Mila said without greater support, schools will continue to shoulder rising behavioural complexity without the resources to manage it.

“And it’s not okay for teachers. It’s not okay for school leaders.”

Jaime Cunningham is a Christchurch-based reporter with a focus on education, social issues and general news. She joined Newstalk ZB in 2023 after working as a sports reporter at the Christchurch Star.