The Whangārei school that took a group caving and saw a student tragically die had a safety document that said the trip should've been postponed if water levels got too high.
A body of a teenage boy was found late on Tuesday evening after a Whangārei Boys' High School student was swept away when he was caving with his classmates.
The alarm was raised just before 10:30am on Tuesday after the group, including 15 students and two adults from the high school, got into trouble in Abbey Caves in Whangārei during severe weather.
MetService had issued a severe thunderstorm watch and an orange heavy rain warning for Northland on Tuesday, with MetService warning the area could get 90mm of rain and downpours of 40mm per hour.
"Rainfall of this intensity can cause surface and/or flash flooding, especially in low-lying areas such as streams, rivers or narrow valleys, and may also lead to slips," MetService warns.
Whangārei Boys High School's safety plan for caving shows they were aware the caves were prone to flooding.
It also showed the trip should've been postponed if water levels got too high.
In the case of heavy rain or deep water, the safety plan said the instructor should "check weather leading up to trip and check water levels before trip, if there has been rain".
"Postpone trip if water levels may be too high," the safety plan said.
The safety plan also outlined the potential risks that could occur when students go caving including, death because of drowning, hypothermia and fatigue, loss of self-esteem and confidence, injuries like broken or sprained bones, damage to the environment, a medical emergency and getting lost.
The safety plan also said students should be briefed before going into dark, wet, cold and small spaces.
Students were also meant to be told why and how to respect the environment and the creatures that could be found inside the cave.
Questions have now been raised about why the school trip proceeded, given bad weather was on the way and well documented in advance.
A parent of a year 12 student who attends Whangārei High School sent an email to AM on Wednesday morning, saying those responsible for organising the caving trip need to be "held to account".
"They had the weather warnings and the weather was horrible before they entered the cave," the email said.
"All of us locals know you do not go near these caves in any rain. Anyone at the school including the principal will need to answer some serious questions."
WorkSafe confirmed to Newshub they've opened an investigation into the incident.
"WorkSafe has been notified of the fatality at Abbey Caves in Whangārei, and extends its sincere condolences to the whānau, school, and wider community affected by this tragedy," a WorkSafe New Zealand spokesperson said.
"WorkSafe has opened an investigation into the incident, but cannot comment further while the investigation is underway."
Education Minister Jan Tinetti also indicated action will be taken to ensure a tragedy like the one in Abbey Caves never happens again.
Speaking to AM on Wednesday, Tinetti confirmed she would be talking to officials after the body of a missing student was recovered in the caves overnight.
"It's simply a huge tragedy that none of us ever want to imagine going through… a beautiful young boy didn't come home yesterday," said Tinetti.
"Of course, there are going to be lots of questions - we've all got them and those answers do need to come forward, and I will be talking to my officials today about just that but, at the same time, being mindful that today is a time of grief."
In a statement to Newshub, the family said they're deeply grateful for the help and support from search and rescuers - and they wish for their privacy to be respected.
Whangārei Boys' High School principal Karen Gilbert-Smith told Newshub in a statement their "thoughts and aroha" are with the whānau and the students, even more so now that a body has been recovered.
"It is really important for me to let you know how devastated we are that one of our whānau have lost a much loved, and treasured, son and brother," she said.
"The impact of this tragedy is being felt widely amongst our school staff, students and community.
"I realise that people have lots of questions but I simply am not in a position to provide answers at this early stage out of respect for the whānau."
Further to that, Gilbert-Smith said they want to allow an investigation involving police and WorkSafe to be completed.
"Meantime, and as I also said yesterday, the school is continuing to operate as normal as possible and continue to focus on supporting all whānau, staff and students impacted by this event - along with the wider school community, with assistance from iwi and appropriate agencies," she said.
"Again, I have asked the WBHS community to stay united and provide support where required."
A Givealittle page has been set up to help support the boy's whānau.
