What jewellery can my teen wear to school in NZ?

New Zealand schools generally enforce a strict policy regarding jewellery, mainly for safety and uniformity.

Items such as wristwatches, one pair of small, plain stud earrings or sleepers and cultural or religious items may be permitted.  Facial piercings are usually banned in all schools and often non-regulation jewellery is confiscated.

General NZ School Jewellery Rules

Earrings- limited to one plain sleeper or small stud.  One only per earlobe.

Necklaces- To be worn under the uniform and may be restricted to cultural or religious items.

Watches- generally permitted

Facial or body piercings - most schools forbid  all nose studs, eyebrow rings, lip piercings or other piercings.

Rings- Usually forbidden

Bracelets- Usually forbidden

These rules are generally designed for safety reasons.

Some schools have different rules for boys and girls, but this is becoming less common as they are seen as discriminatory.

Examples of Individual School Rules

It is important to check your school's individual regulations regarding which jewellery is permitted.  As you can see from the examples below, regulations range from some limited jewellery permitted to none at all.

It is important to check your schools's requirements to avoid non-regulation items being confiscated.  They may not be returned, in some instances, until the end of the school term.

Auckland Girls Grammar

Students are not permitted to wear jewellery, apart from a watch or Taonga. No body piercing other than one plain gold or silver stud or small slim sleeper in each ear. 

Diocesan

Only a wrist watch is permitted.

Years 0-6 students may wear silver studs or Dio star earrings, only one earring in each lobe.

Years 7 – 10 students may wear either small gold and silver studs or Dio star earrings, only one earring in each lobe.

Years 11 – 13 students may wear either small gold, silver, or pearl studs or Dio star earrings, only one earring in each lobe.

Mt Albert Grammar

The only jewellery allowed is a watch. No other jewellery is to be worn. 

Wellington College

Jewellery, necklaces, rings, sunglasses, bracelets or NOT permitted

Whakatane High School

Modest jewellery is permitted

Porirua East School

Jewellery is limited to small studs in each ear and a wristwatch. Taonga may be worn for cultural reasons but must be tucked inside the uniform for safety. No other visible jewellery is permitted. All jewellery must comply with the health and safety requirements of any school activity

Christchurch Girl's High School

You may wear a watch and if you have pierced ears, two single small, plain studs in each ear are allowed. 

Rangiruru School

The only jewellery permitted is a single small, plain gold, silver or pearl stud or small gold or silver sleeper in each ear lobe. Watches are also permitted. No facial piercings are allowed. Māori students may wear visible pounamu taonga as a mark of respect to their cultural identity.