A downward spiral in New Zealand's school attendance is sparking alarm.

A new report by the Education Review Office has found 41 per cent of parents are comfortable with their child missing a week or more of school a term.

Attendance has been dropping, with a 12 per cent decrease between 2015 and 2019 to 58 percent attending regularly.

Te Tai Tokerau Principals Association president Pat Newman told Kate Hawkesby it's not a blaming situation.

He says it's not something that can be fixed by government legislation, as it needs to be dealt with by communities.

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