More than a dozen schools in the South are on the Ministry of Education’s coastal flood risk management list.
Waitaki Boys’ is not on the list but coastal erosion has continued to bite along the North Otago coastline.
Rector Darryl Paterson said coastal erosion has occurred since the school’s establishment in 1883, but increasing sea levels, storm events and climate change issues had accelerated problems.
"It is probably fair to say that over the past 10 years it has been about a metre a year," Mr Paterson said.
Previously there had been two rugby fields behind the school but now only one could fit "at a squeeze".
While the coastline was some distance from any school buildings, they would not be safe without a contingency plan.
"I don’t envision it will be an issue for this generation, or possibly the next, but at some stage in the future if this process continues then logic would suggest that decisions will have to be made about the location of the school or options to prevent the erosion," Mr Paterson said.
Last month, Mr Paterson, Waitaki Mayor Gary Kircher and a Ministry of Education regional property manager met to discuss the issues.
Mr Paterson said it was encouraging the ministry was engaging with engineering company Beca to complete a comprehensive coastal sea erosion assessment.
Ministry head of property Sam Fowler agreed with Mr Paterson.
"We’ll be working with the school to determine the right response to the erosion while taking into consideration the Waitaki District Council’s approach to managing coastal erosion more broadly in the area," Mr Fowler said.
Waitaki Boys’ was more than 10m above sea level and was not at risk from coastal flooding.
Mr Fowler said a coastal erosion assessment was to be carried out to as part of future plans, options, and timeframes.
The ministry has placed 103 schools nationwide on its coastal flood risk list.
Thirteen of those schools are in the South.
Each school needed to have its own plan and timeframe, based on its geography, site specific circumstances, building design, layout and timing of any potential impacts, Mr Fowler said.
"This will include the local council response to sea level rise, coastal erosion, and river flood management.
"Given the variable nature of the impacts and timeframes, decisions on options, funding and resourcing will need to be considered as part of our ongoing property management planning processes as we refurbish, redevelop, or build new schools."
Schools at flood risk
The 13 southern schools on the Ministry of Education’s coastal flood risk list:
King’s High School, Queen’s High School, Macandrew Bay School, Musselburgh School, Port Chalmers School, St Clair School, Tāhuna Normal
Intermediate School, Taieri Beach School, Tainui School, Haast School, Aparima College, Riverton School, Halfmoon Bay School.
