A decile one primary school in Tauranga is trying to prevent its pupils from becoming victims of the housing crisis this winter.
In August last year, almost 14 percent of pupils at Merivale School were hospitalised with illnesses resulting from inadequate housing.
Principal Jan Tinetti says hospitalisations of her pupils are increasing every winter, with illnesses including sores, skin diseases, asthma attacks, influenza and even rheumatic fever.
"The houses that these children are coming from are substandard, they're not fit for purpose," Ms Tinetti says.
"I'm concerned that we saw those levels last year that were absolutely unacceptable, but that's going to get even worse this year."
Of the school's population of 150 students, around 80 percent are Maori and 12 percent are Pacific Island students.
Last year one six-year-old student spent 45 days away from school over two terms.
This year, the Bay of Plenty District Health Board is jumping on the bandwagon to try and prevent a repeat of last year's hospitalisations.
"They're talking with the families now, helping them prepare, coming up with some solutions and ensuring we've got the heating in those houses," Ms Tinetti says.
She knows of multiple families within the school who are homeless or living in substandard housing.
With no heating or insulation, raw sewage and issues in bathrooms, she says families are putting up with unsatisfactory housing for fear of being kicked out.
Acting as the first point of contact, Merivale's social worker is also working with the housing agencies to push for better insulation and to rectify the problems within homes.
Ms Tinetti says in a perfect world "it would actually not be up to the school, and I think that we would have a better wrap-around service for these children."
"In the short term the school has to do everything that they can to actually meet the needs of these children, because we can't stand by and continue to see what's happening, it's just not on. We want the best for our children and that's what we're going to strive to get."
When the kids are so ill, learning is not their top priority.
"Stable housing, actually health, is their top priority and they're not even able to concentrate on getting anywhere with their learning when they're not in a fit state."
The longer term solution she says, falls on central Government.
"[These] will be just short term solutions, but we really have to come up with a way that we don't have the 11 children or even more hospitalised.
"Even one child is one child too many."
The Bay of Plenty District Health Board has been approached for comment.
Newshub.
