Freyberg High School says no students stood down after performing haka, spitting in front of David Seymour

Freyberg High School principal Graeme Williams says no students have been stood down after performing a haka and spitting in front of ACT leader David Seymour. 

An email sent out to the school and media on Tuesday confirmed no students involved had been suspended as a result. 

It comes after Seymour, Associate Education Minister, was at the school to chat to leaders about truancy on Thursday, when the protest occurred as he was leaving. 

Students gathered at the front of the school and performed a haka, where one student appeared to spit on the ground in front of him.

"I wanted to update you on how we, as a kura, are responding to last week's events," the email from the school stated.

"It is important that you know, and can have confidence in, our unequivocal support of our students' rights to legitimately protest and have their voices heard.  What we have found is that there was a need to respond to some of the behaviour after the protest."  

He said "a careful and considered approach" is being taken, and the school is working closely with Freyberg Parent Board Member Haimona Maruera, Deputy Secretary for Education Jocelyn Mikaere, local Ministry of Education offices, the board of trustees (BOT), the school's Māori department and "the relevant students." 

Williams said the school is working through a process of "using last Thursday's events as a learning experience". 

"We have utilised the restorative processes within our school's framework, which is a central part of who we are as a school," the email read. "No students have been stood down nor suspended as a result of the protest." 

"We are looking after the wellbeing of all our students and our showing manaakitanga to those particularly effected." 

However, speaking to Stuff last week, Williams said "the matter will be managed appropriately through our disciplinary process".

"We must respect and uphold the dignity of each other and all guests at our kura/school," he told Stuff.

Meanwhile, Seymour claimed he was happy to visit the school again despite the reception he received.  

He said he thought the haka was "good" and believed some students just got "over-excited".  

"The meeting with school leaders about the impressive work they're doing around attendance was... valuable," he told Newshub last week. 

"Some of the students got over-excited as I left, perhaps seeing a politician they recognised and egging each other on, but I thought their haka was actually good.  

"I've spoken to the principal and am happy to come back and visit the school again."