Man allegedly denied food sale at Auckland school fair after being asked if he's 'even from here'

Devonport Primary.
Devonport Primary School on the North Shore. Photo credit: Google

An investigation is underway after a university student was allegedly told he couldn't buy food at an Auckland primary school fair, after being asked if he's "even from here".

Philip Balle says his nephew, a University of Otago medicine student, attended the Devonport Primary School fair on Sunday when he went to make a purchase at a food stall.

"As he approached a food stall to buy food, you... asked my nephew if he had children at the school, he replied 'no,'" Balle wrote in the Devonport Locals Facebook group.

"You then informed him, that because he was not a parent he was not allowed to buy food, you also asked him if he was from here."

In the post, Balle questioned why he wasn't allowed to buy the food.

"Is it fair for you to ask a 21yr old man if he was from here? Does Devonport Primary condone this type of behaviour from parents? He asked you three times if he was allowed to buy food and after the third time you said 'well I guess you can now.'

"What I really want to know is what was your motive behind confronting him?"

Balle reiterated his nephew was in fact from Auckland.

"To answer your question lightly.. he attended the kohanga at Bayswater Primary, his mother, myself, and 2 other sisters attended TGS [Takapuna Grammar School]... He is from here."

Beverley Booth, the principal of Devonport Primary, said she was upset to hear of the alleged incident.

"This is completely out of character for our school and certainly not in keeping with our values of belonging, respect, and excellence, which we strive to reflect throughout our school culture," she told the NZ Herald, adding it was a "special community event where everyone is always welcome". 

Booth told the Herald she would contact the family and investigate the matter.