Parents needing to return to work feel schools are pressuring them to keep their children away from school throughout alert level 3.
On Monday Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced New Zealand would move to level 3 on Monday, April 27 as part of the country's response to COVID-19.
Under the new level schools will reopen to children in years 10 and under, but only for students whose parents have to leave the house to go to work.
But some parents have reported schools trying to keep children away.
One father, who wished to remain anonymous, shared an e-newsletter with Newshub from Shelly Park Primary School in Auckland's south-east which encourages students to stay home.
"We impress upon you all the importance of keeping your kids SAFE, AT HOME and AWAY FROM OTHER BUBBLES," says one of many bolded sentences.
"We strongly urge as many children as possible to stay home because that is the safest place for them to be."
The parent says he found the e-newsletter an "aggressive announcement".
Both he and his wife have to return to work when alert level 3 commences on Monday, April 27, but feels the school is putting pressure on families to find other ways to look after their children.
"The newsletter and communication from school management have been terrible and although they are probably in a difficult position, they shouldn't push the stress onto us!
"This has caused arguments and a lot of additional stress in our household.
"We will be expected to work some days back in the office, and my parents are over 70 with lung issues so we can't give the children to them," he said.
"We will need to return the kids to school a few days a week at least. We are too worried for our jobs to refuse our companies requesting us to come in!"
The father says if he had a choice he wouldn't send his children back to school. His eldest child has been struggling with anxiety through the pandemic and says sending him to the school during lockdown where they will have to wear masks, can't see their friends and might not have their normal teacher isn't ideal.
He is already under financial pressure from his work which is calling for pay cuts, and now trying to figure out what to do with the children is causing the family more stress.
Shelly Park High School Principal Brian Rolfe says he hasn't heard of any complaints from parents.
"Feedback has only been positive for the work that has been done for families to support them and they appreciate it very much."
Rolfe also shared with Newshub an email from the family of one of his students who thanked the school for their response to the pandemic.
"Just wanted to say we sincerely appreciate your newsletters & email updates at this unusual time. Thank you for always keeping us thoroughly informed.
"We can only imagine the stress and pressure it is causing for yourself & the teacher group trying to work through everything that you have done so seamlessly right from the start."
West Auckland mother Cathie-Lee says she is also feeling "challenged" by her children's primary school in regards to alert level 3.
In an email, which was obtained by Newshub, the school's principal encourages parents to ask their family or neighbours to look after their children if they have to go to work, instead of bringing them to school.
"I would like to ask you to think about your situation and encourage you to be creative in your problem solving," the email says.
"We have been given permission to expand our bubbles in Level 3 to include a family member living alone for example or to help sort out child care. Perhaps you could consider expanding your bubble by finding a neighbour or family member who could look after your child while you have to be at work.
"This would mean they could continue their distance learning from a home situation rather than being sent to school, where potentially 10 or up to 20 new bubbles will be intersecting. We feel this option would be safer for the health of our students and our teachers."
Cathie-Lee says she and her husband were "taken aback by the, to be frank, guilt trip".
"We are both workers who cannot work from home and will be returning in level 3. Myself as an early childhood teacher and manager of a centre know only too well that, yes, if you can stay home do so...
"Of course I would consider family but all of our close family are either already working as essential workers or will also be going back in level 3... To ask a neighbour is simply rude I don't even understand why this was a suggestion."
She also can't afford to lose her job and wants to support New Zealand in getting the economy back up and running.
Cathie-Lee says the school should have been more sensitive towards families already struggling through the pandemic.
"There needs to be more kindness and understanding as no-one wants to send their kids to school but it is not an easy choice."
Secretary for Education Iona Holsted says children should stay home if possible but it is up to the student's caregiver to decide.
"Under Alert Level 3, it is important that parents and caregivers keep children at home and continue distance learning if this is possible. We still want the vast majority of people working from home, and children and young people learning from home...
"Some whānau will need to have their children at school, and under Alert Level 3 schools will be open for these students. Each student’s parents or caregivers are responsible for determining whether they will remain at home during Alert Level 3 or if they will return to school."
