A Queenstown 15-year-old is facing disciplinary action after posting derogatory comments about three of his teachers online.
The Wakatipu High School pupil posted comments on Facebook referring to his teachers as circus freaks and drug users.
He created a quiz on the social networking site asking pupils questions to find which teacher they most resembled.
The quiz has been removed.
Deputy principal Grant Adolph said the behaviour was considered as "gross misconduct and a harmful and dangerous example to other students".
The year 11 pupil would be asked for a full account of his actions and the board of trustees would meet on Monday to decide what disciplinary action to take, Mr Adolph said.
The board could decide to stand the pupil down for five days or suspend him for a minimum of seven days.
If he was suspended, the board would meet after seven days to decide whether to extend the suspension or allow the pupil to return to school with conditions.
Given the evidence against him, the pupil could be suspended, Mr Adolph said.
The pupil had undermined the relationship between pupils and staff at the school.
The comments undermined teachers' characters and were professionally damning, he said. The boy had used the school's logo and attracted the attention of past pupils around the world, one of whom alerted the school to the derogatory comments.
Other pupils had reported the abuse to Facebook.
Mr Adolph said the school wanted to make sure other pupils were aware this type of behaviour was "not OK".
He would be addressing the school's assembly next week on social networking.
"Individuals leave a digital footprint. This student's actions damaged the school, staff members and his own reputation," he said.
He would be warning pupils that media, police and future employers could access sites.
Board chairman Peter Doyle said the boy's behaviour was "very disappointing".
He said he could not comment until the board's disciplinary committee had met to decide on what action to take.
