More than 70% of New Zealand schools surveyed in 2017 required a uniform. But it doesn’t necessarily get any easier for parents whose children don’t have to wear one, as this creates more wear and tear on their normal clothes. Although two of Sarah Ostergaard’s children wear mufti to attend Stanley Bay School, she said spending $400 to $500 on her oldest daughter’s uniform for Takapuna Grammar School just seemed fairer. “They’ve got an incredibly simple explanation about what the uniform is, what the minimum viable product is”, Reidy said. Laing said this is why Royal Oak Intermediate encouraged Year 8 leavers to donate their uniforms on their last day of school.

Source: New Zealand Herald January 18, 2026 21:31 UTC