Complaint over school’s ‘racist’ stance on dreadlocks and braids

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Dreadlocks are not permitted at Gisborne Boys High School. (Picture file)

A rule around extravagant and unusual haircuts, including dreadlocks and braids at Gisborne Boys High School has prompted a local woman to complain to the Race Relations Commissioner and the Human Rights Commission.

School principal Tom Cairns on Sunday night announced on the schools Facebook page that the school was currently running a blitz on uniform and hair standards.

There is a correlation between uniform and the culture and environment of our school. We have always been clear about the expectations for uniform and hair, he said.

Cairns said the school rules were: Extravagant and unusual haircuts, including dreadlocks and braids, are not permitted … Students with long hair must have it tied back. Hair should be the student’s natural color, not dyed or streaked.

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Cairns said the requirements were outlined to the students at assembly last term and would be outlined again on Monday.

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Local woman Tina Ngata tweeted the announcement and said it was straight racist for this Gisborne school to be calling dreadlocks and braids extravagant and unusual and said she would be writing to Race Relations Commissioner Meng Foon and the Human Rights Commission.

Cairns, Ngata and Foon have been contacted for comment.

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