A central North Island secondary school's retracted a policy to close the girls' bathrooms during school hours, and have a teacher check after students finished

There was outcry from distressed students and parents at Ruapehu College in Ohakune.

A letter was sent on Wednesday advising changes to the school's policy around toilet use for girls during the school day due to improper disposal of sanitary products and intentional blocking of drains with tampons.

A second letter was sent yesterday retracting the first, apologising for the distress it caused and saying it was inappropriate in both tone and context.