Closing all Auckland schools for a week is an over-reaction.

The last minute decision by the Government to close over 2,000 schools and ECE centres in Auckland for a week is an over-reaction to the flooding.

You could make a case for a day, but not a week. This will cause chaos for parents and families, plus be educationally disadvantageous to kids who have already had three years of disruptions.

There are some schools that can’t and should not open. But Auckland is a huge place. The situation in the south is very different to the north.

Rather than have the Government close all 2,000 schools and ECEs, the decision on closing should rest with each school and ECE – they will know their local situation.

The excuse that they needed to reduce traffic on the roads is again lacking. If that is the rationale, then why only close schools? Why not close every business? But it also overlooks that many students walk to school.

Why are we banning students from attending a school which is safe to be open, and that they can safely get to?

Again there could be a case for having them stay shut just on Tuesday, but to keep kids out of school until next Tuesday is hamfisted. It is bad for families and bad for kids.