“We understand that there is significant financial pressure at the start of the year, and this news may be a cause of some anxiety for you.
“However, you can be assured that we will not be enforcing a hardline uniform policy when uniform is not available for sale.”
Craggs said the school was trying to buy unsold stock from the liquidator so it could supply school uniforms for the start of next year.
“It is currently unclear when we will be able to have this ready for sale,” Craggs told parents.
He cautioned parents against buying from an alternative uniform shop, because items were no longer part of the PHS school uniform.
Kelston Intermediate School principal Bert Iosia told the Herald the liquidation had put the school “on the back foot”.
Iosia said they are grateful to have found a quick solution, however, through a new uniform provider.
“The initial impact was one of shock as our year is fast approaching the end, we are transitioning new Year 6 students into our school, establishing new connections with family and their children, some of whom are anxious about leaving their primary school,” he said.
Iosia said the cost of uniforms and the availability of a local store were big worries for the school.
“Families started to hear about the liquidation, and we knew they would want answers. Our community is a hardworking community and families budget according to need and access,” he said.
“NZ Uniforms answered all three concerns, with access to our stock suppliers overseas, assurances in writing of keeping our prices the same and having a local store for our families were all big ticks.”
Kieran Jones and Steven Khov of Khov Jones Limited were appointed liquidators of Sportclub Company Limited on November 19.
Inland Revenue, the Bank of New Zealand and New Zealand Rugby League are among those owed money, according to their first report.
Preferential and secured creditors are owed an interim total of $828,019. Of that figure, $348,574 is owed to Inland Revenue, $189,629 is owed to LC Business Loans, and $285,000 is owed to BNZ.
Trade creditors are owed the bulk of unsecured claims, totalling $603,669, with $91,490 owed to customers who have not received stock that has been paid for.
Both Papakura High School and Kelston Intermediate School are creditors, according to the liquidators’ report.
Cameron Smith is an Auckland-based business reporter. He joined the Herald in 2015 and has covered business and sports. He reports on topics such as retail, small business, the workplace and macroeconomics.