A group of students are protesting their mouldy classrooms by holding lessons on the lawn of Parliament.
Year 12 and 13 students from Hutt Valley High School are sick of their school being inundated with "high levels" of mould. The mould was discovered in March, and 13 classrooms, three bathrooms and a dance studio were deemed unsafe because of it.
The senior students must now work from home two and a half days a week due to insufficient space.
Angry at the return to distance learning and frustrated with the "inaction" of the Ministry of Education, students flocked to Parliament on Thursday to put pressure on the powers that be.
Armed with their school books and a whiteboard, the group of students are holding their regular lessons outside to spur the Ministry into action.
"We'll set up camp for the day with school work or just being ready to listen and carry out a 'regular' school day outdoors," reads an email from student leaders supplied to Newshub.
"We believe this would accurately bring attention to our cause, as it demonstrates the severe need for accommodation the students and staff of our school are currently experiencing. By bringing our protest right to Parliament, we will be demonstrating the direct results of inaction, not to mention being a bit of a nuisance, which we believe is fitting."
Kim Shannon, the Head of Education Infrastructure Service at the Ministry of Education, says she recognises the situation as "challenging" for students and staff - but says alternatives are already available.
"Three alternative accommodation options are up and running that can host around 200 students, and are all within a short walk of the school campus," Shannon told Newshub.
"The affected areas of the school have been deep cleaned, overseen by an occupational hygienist. The gym and student centre are already back in use."
She says the Ministry intends to bring more spaces back into use as soon as it is safe to do so.
"We are now working with the school to understand and prioritise work that needs to be done across the campus. This includes demolishing C Block and identifying the best place on the school site for its replacement."
As well as the student protest, frustrated parents will have the opportunity to ask questions on Thursday evening in a public meeting hosted by Hutt South MP Ginny Andersen.
Representatives from the Ministry of Education will also be present.
