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New World Stratford reverses ban on uniformed High School students

New World Stratford reverses ban on uniformed High School students
Tony Skilling

Tony Skilling

25 August 2026

Retail BanBusiness Stratford
Stratford New World has now reversed a ban on uniformed Stratford High School students from entering the store unless accompanied by a parent, caregiver, or teacher.

Update: Stratford New World has now reversed a ban on uniformed Stratford High School students from entering the store unless accompanied by a parent, caregiver, or teacher. A statement announcing the ban was posted to the store's Facebook page on Tuesday morning, blaming the move on a “significant increase in theft” by a small number of students. Just hours later, the store's owner-operator David Abetz released another statement saying they have reversed the decision to instead work directly with Stratford High School. “We published a Facebook post about the situation to our store page this morning but this has since been removed so we can address the issue directly with the school.” “To be clear, all students are welcome to shop at our store whether they are in uniform or not. “We want to ensure that the store is a safe and welcoming environment for our team members and customers, and we’ll continue to work constructively with the school on finding a solution to the theft issue.”

Stratford New World Stratford High School Shoplifting Student Ban Retail Theft
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Stats updated 10 Sept 2026, 12:24 pm

Community Discussion

Facebook user25 Aug 2026

Well this is stupid. Is it only school kids stealing..Bet it's not 🤣

Commented on Facebook
Facebook user25 Aug 2026

That's ridiculous

Commented on Facebook
Facebook user25 Aug 2026

So its click and collect for them.

Commented on Facebook
Facebook user25 Aug 2026

There must be an escalating problem ..... that's why the rule is put in place. No business will make that decision unless it's a real problem and a challenge. Sending a great message to kids ...consequences for your choices and your actions!

Commented on Facebook
Facebook user25 Aug 2026

Fair enough...

Commented on Facebook
Facebook user25 Aug 2026

This must have been going on for sometime but crazy unheard of right! I mean how many students go to Stratford High? The whole school can’t go in there unless supervised? Dose that include the Seniors as well? That will include 17,18yr olds.

Commented on Facebook
Facebook user25 Aug 2026

Really they are not little kids yet you treat them like this

Commented on Facebook
Facebook user25 Aug 2026

They will just go in there without uniform on

Commented on Facebook
Kohatu25 Aug 2026

I'd say adults pinch too, will they ban adults?

Commented on Facebook
Facebook user25 Aug 2026

How embarrassing!

Commented on Facebook
Facebook user25 Aug 2026

May as well ban all customers, and close the doors, this is going to far, as I bet that it's not just students shoplifting....

Commented on Facebook
Facebook user25 Aug 2026

Racists and discriminating Hardout I’m a LPO and I do it as it’s a safety hazard risk for us and them I use discretion for our Kura kids we have Wananga I set down the rules they listen we all good that’s how we Māori like to roll in Rotorua Te Arawa with our own tamariki most of the workers are related to them as Nannie’s and da aunties anyways and it’s easy to identify the hoha tutu kids with no taringa anyways as security you gotta have that special unique relationship of understanding and the skills ability and talents to PANUI TE PUREI (Read the play) as not all Kura kids are haututu kore taringa tamariki and if you got that special whanaungatangata understanding and relationship with them they start calling you whaea or Miss which is respect and it becomes mutual. Or else this aunty will tell nanny and they’ll get it when they get home. That’s how we do it in Te Arawa RotoVegas with store security of a major retail outfit and our most vulnerable our tamariki

Commented on Facebook
Facebook user25 Aug 2026

Not a great idea,

Commented on Facebook
Facebook user25 Aug 2026

that's ridiculous and discrimatory!!

Commented on Facebook
Facebook user25 Aug 2026

Just go to countdown

Commented on Facebook
Facebook user25 Aug 2026

Jayden Beer classic Stratford shenanigans

Commented on Facebook
Facebook user25 Aug 2026

We are not as bad as Auckland or Hamilton and they don’t even have this in place?

Commented on Facebook
Facebook user25 Aug 2026

"All for one and one for all". And for that one comment about it being about racism, read the businesses explanation, no where does it discriminate against race.

Commented on Facebook
Facebook user25 Aug 2026

Not a happy place to work 🥹🥺

Commented on Facebook
Facebook user25 Aug 2026

The anti smaking law at work

Commented on Facebook
Facebook user25 Aug 2026

Just change out of uniform 😆

Commented on Facebook
Facebook user25 Aug 2026

Good on them. Shop lifting isn't a victimless crime, it impacts all of us... prices go up to cover loses. Confronting shop lifters is becoming increasingly dangerous as so many feral kids & people.

Commented on Facebook
Facebook user25 Aug 2026

And I bet it's just a select group of special privileged ones doing it too..... At last a business standing up to the new terrorists of NZ . Btw vote NZ 1st and ACT.....

Commented on Facebook
Facebook user25 Aug 2026

Good for them

Commented on Facebook
Facebook user25 Aug 2026

God forbid they should have consequences! It's about time!

Commented on Facebook
Facebook user25 Aug 2026

Why can’t the kids just be banned like the old days ?

Commented on Facebook
Facebook user25 Aug 2026

we will just take our uniforms off anyway

Commented on Facebook
Facebook user25 Aug 2026

You can't call these kids vulnerable. They know right from wrong. What if someone stole their stuff? It's about respect. They need to be taught a lesson, and face the consequences of their own decisions.

Commented on Facebook
Facebook user25 Aug 2026

Ha! Would be more adult theft I bet than the kids but I guess can’t ban suspected adults 🤣

Commented on Facebook
Facebook user25 Aug 2026

Being light lingered I'm afraid, isn't just the students, couldn't you actually use the camera footage and trespass those involved instead . Stick a big photo of them on the front door??? Im not sure coming in with mum and dad will stop them theiving, they already are on camera doing it !!!

Commented on Facebook
Facebook user25 Aug 2026

Same as the warehouse in hawera for te pae pae students.

Commented on Facebook
Facebook user25 Aug 2026

Sad. My girl is starting high school next year and I'd trust her not to shop lift

Commented on Facebook
Facebook user25 Aug 2026

They have security, but they cant do anything. I have been at checkout people have walked out, with goods staff do nothing, security do nothing. Security need to be able to contain thieves

Commented on Facebook
Facebook user25 Aug 2026

Give the security camera footage to the school, they will recognise the students

Commented on Facebook
Facebook user25 Aug 2026

Great call.

Commented on Facebook
Facebook user25 Aug 2026

Good job

Commented on Facebook
Facebook user25 Aug 2026

One amazing thing about this place is the staff! Not management they don't care. Constantly old food always going home and things have one day left to expire (buying at full price I might add!) Plus the fact he did the building up and didn't put any heating in is so bad. I visited many new worlds over school holidays all heated. Also he took away the public toilet and the food is so much more expensive than countdown Stratford

Commented on Facebook
Facebook user25 Aug 2026

Same thing as the warehouse in Hāwera I don't know if they still do it but they did.

Commented on Facebook
Facebook user25 Aug 2026

If I had children going to the high school I would stop shopping there. If they going ban one school it wrong it should be a blanket ban.

Commented on Facebook
Facebook user25 Aug 2026

Good on them.

Commented on Facebook
Facebook user25 Aug 2026

At New world Regent in Whangarei the students have to leave their bags outside and are not allowed to take them into the store

Commented on Facebook
Facebook user25 Aug 2026

Well done!👍

Commented on Facebook
Facebook user25 Aug 2026

They have facial recognition in there so would be easy to trespass those particular students instead of a blanket ban wouldn't it?

Commented on Facebook
Facebook user25 Aug 2026

This is not the first supermarket to do this, I worked in a supermarket in taranaki that did the same thing before school and this was in the early 2000's

Commented on Facebook
Facebook user25 Aug 2026

Excellent. Can see more shops doing this

Commented on Facebook
Facebook user25 Aug 2026

If I had a shop, there are certain people I wouldn’t let in.

Commented on Facebook
Facebook user25 Aug 2026

Stratford is placid compared to alot of other places in NZ just appreciate that theft is the worse the community has to deal with and not aggravated robberys and ram raids

Commented on Facebook
Facebook user25 Aug 2026

Well done, Stratford New World. They do it, because they know there are no consequences!

Commented on Facebook
Facebook user25 Aug 2026

NewWorld Hawera used to have a ban on students going in. Their shop and their right to set whatever rules they feel. Don't like it, carry on to steal from Woolworth instead

Commented on Facebook
Facebook user25 Aug 2026

Good

Commented on Facebook
Facebook user25 Aug 2026

others judge because of a uniform ...eggs

Commented on Facebook
Facebook user25 Aug 2026

Then go CountDown.

Commented on Facebook
Facebook user25 Aug 2026

For me, the 'ban on students' is not the solution. It disproportionatly, unfairly vilifiies, and stigmisies all the school students in the community.

Commented on Facebook
Facebook user25 Aug 2026

Well done to the store

Commented on Facebook
Facebook user25 Aug 2026

Common sense

Commented on Facebook
Facebook user25 Aug 2026

Bring the cane back to high school, the threat is enough for the majority of trouble. By the way nats new law has it possible to detain offenders?

Commented on Facebook
Facebook user25 Aug 2026

If I was still going to shs and I saw this I don't know if I'd be ashamed or proud of my fellow students!

Commented on Facebook
Facebook user25 Aug 2026

Western Australian supermarkets make all school kids leave their bags at the door accompanied or not

Commented on Facebook
Facebook user25 Aug 2026

The ban has been lifted while new World owner talks to the school.

Commented on Facebook
Facebook user25 Aug 2026

Ya carnt do that ffs

Commented on Facebook
Facebook user25 Aug 2026

Good on ya new world, better than just shutting up shop like has happened in other areas

Commented on Facebook
Facebook user25 Aug 2026

they have reversed decision

Commented on Facebook
Facebook user25 Aug 2026

Sounds like the sort of nonsense someone with connections should test in court, wonder if the free speech union is offering assistance.

Commented on Facebook
Facebook user25 Aug 2026

Name and shame the thieves in the local paper, that should do it. What they are doing is going to cost them business

Commented on Facebook
Facebook user25 Aug 2026

Won't be long till the only way anyone gets into a supermarket is by scanning the barcode tottooed on our foreheads. You'll own nothing and be happy

Commented on Facebook
Facebook user25 Aug 2026

We must remember, that only a handful of students would steal. The majority are good kids. It’s sad that all students have to suffer for the sake of a light fingered few. And I don’t know whether what NW are doing is actually lawful.

Commented on Facebook
Facebook user25 Aug 2026

Fair

Commented on Facebook
Facebook user25 Aug 2026

Entitled

Commented on Facebook
Facebook user25 Aug 2026

Nah, stealing is stealing. If theres an issue with students stealing, it must be slot of theft even if its only a few.remember also cant touch them if their caught in the act.

Commented on Facebook
Facebook user25 Aug 2026

I’d like to know what they are stealing just quietly

Commented on Facebook
Facebook user25 Aug 2026

NZ is slowly catching up with the U S A where they have lots of places called food desserts .

Commented on Facebook
Facebook user25 Aug 2026

Good on you Stratford New World Good Parenting

Commented on Facebook
Facebook user25 Aug 2026

They've taken the ban off

Commented on Facebook
Facebook user25 Aug 2026

Sounds great ! Can we make it country wide ?

Commented on Facebook
Facebook user25 Aug 2026

Good on them

Commented on Facebook
Facebook user25 Aug 2026

Maybe just during school hours bro, just a thought 🤔

Commented on Facebook
Facebook user25 Aug 2026

If it is a small number of students as the owner stated, the first port of call should have been consultation with the school. It is not fair to punish all students for the actions of a few. Great to see the ban lifted and NW owner-operator working constructively with school. The small group of perpetrators should be held accountable.

Commented on Facebook
Facebook user25 Aug 2026

Yet you put a ban on in the first place is that correct

Commented on Facebook
Facebook user25 Aug 2026

......just don't take what's not yours, simple

Commented on Facebook
Facebook user25 Aug 2026

So is there a issue with children not having food !?!? Or selling food to pay for power / rent It Cld be far far more serious than a bag of chips

Commented on Facebook
Facebook user25 Aug 2026

Foodtown Browns Bay had no issue with shoppers wearing a bikini.

Commented on Facebook
Facebook user25 Aug 2026

Need more surcuity cameras. . .

Commented on Facebook
Facebook user25 Aug 2026

The schools jurisdiction leaves when the student leaves the school grounds. However some schools have pride and may try and help the situation

Commented on Facebook
Facebook user25 Aug 2026

ridiculous 🙄 it’s like the no gang patch law but for the supermarket haha if you’re a kid going to school you can now be judged & discriminated for the way you look/dress 🤦‍♂️ next they’ll be banning nurses uniforms & cop uniforms in some places 🤷‍♂️😂

Commented on Facebook
Facebook user25 Aug 2026

I'd rather my thieves be uniformed to easily identify than not .

Commented on Facebook
Facebook user26 Aug 2026

It’s just a couple of bad apples that need disposing of.. Stratford is a safe town, we never lock our doors or cars and haven’t ever had an issue. Stratford is hardly some crime ridden gang town in Northland or the BOP, completely different demographic.

Commented on Facebook
Facebook user26 Aug 2026

Important lesson learnt... consultation before decisions are made ?

Commented on Facebook
Facebook user26 Aug 2026

N̈z goin backwards.

Commented on Facebook
Facebook user26 Aug 2026

Simple rule re uniforms . They are not allowed in any shops in uniform . End of story. They must go home and change clothes. Once clothes changed They are no longer the schools responsibility. We presume they go home to change but most probably will !!

Commented on Facebook
Facebook user27 Aug 2026

The government needs to educate the kids better on this and drugs and bullying etc! We are the most blasé country in the world with these issues!!

Commented on Facebook

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