Primary school at centre of former lockdown holds fundraiser

Caryn Wilkinson Reporter from Community News

The Massey primary school that has been placed into lockdown twice this year is holding a bike-a-thon.

The students from Lincoln Heights School in Keegan Drive are pedalling non-stop today to raise funds for a new playground.

Police advised the school to go into lockdown around midday on Monday after a firearm incident in the street.

This marked the second time this year the school had been placed into lockdown.

It was locked down in July after the shooting of Constable Matthew Hunt, which happened only a few hundred metres away.

School teachers and parents kicked off the first leg of the bike-a-thon yesterday afternoon and braved stormy weather to ride all night.

"After all the bad press about the neighbourhood recently, it would be great to show that despite a few bad eggs Massey is a great place to live," said event and marketing co-ordinator Rebecca Hochuli.

"We have had two covid lockdowns and 2 police lockdowns yet we are still rallying together to fundraise for your children to have a new playground."

Included in the fundraiser were food stalls, players from the Samoan rugby team, a Halloween disco and book fair.

The school's fundraising target is $15000 and $9000 had already been raised this morning, said deputy principal Toby Kite.

"I am immensely proud of our staff who biked through the night and were still smiling and laughing in the morning, and thankful to our parents who have supported this fundraising effort in so many ways," he said.