Papakura High principal Simon Craggs said that after the 2023 and 2024 balls were canned due to low ticket sales, they decided to host it in one of the school\u2019s gyms last year and capped the ticket price at $90. <\/p>\n
Principal Emma Leyland said the decision followed lower-than-expected ticket sales and limited student interest.<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter reviewing ticket sales, it became clear there was insufficient support for the event to proceed.\u201d<\/p>\n
According to the school\u2019s May newsletter, tickets were $75 for singles and $135 for doubles. The school did not cite cost as a factor.<\/p>\n
Leyland thanked those who donated tickets to support student attendance.<\/p>\n
Whang\u0101rei clothing rental company Label & Lease owner Madyson Arnesen has noticed a shift in how students approach school balls.<\/p>\n
\u201cI remember when I was at school, it was the event of the year \u2013 everyone talked about it for months, and there was so much excitement leading up to it. These days, that hype seems to have faded a bit.\u201d<\/p>\n
Clients now don\u2019t want to spend much on a dress they\u2019ll only wear once, or they leave it until the last minute.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt definitely feels like things have shifted, and the approach to school balls is very different now.\u201d<\/p>\n
One Whang\u0101rei makeup artist said she has seen first-hand how much money parents \u201chave to pour into such an event\u201d. <\/p>\n
She averaged the cost at $500 per girl once a dress, jewellery, heels, hair, makeup and tan were done. <\/p>\n
Some parents had even let their daughters get a full head of highlights specifically for the ball, she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd with the current economic crisis and cost of living, I don\u2019t feel that it\u2019s a terrible thing it being cancelled. Food\u2019s better on the table than a school ball.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you have the funds, definitely go all out if you can, but I also think not every family can afford the costs of a school ball.\u201d <\/p>\n
Her comments follow an Auckland principal last month saying the cost of balls was \u201cescalating out of control\u201d<\/a>. <\/p>\nPapakura High principal Simon Craggs said that after the 2023 and 2024 balls were canned due to low ticket sales, they decided to host it in one of the school\u2019s gyms last year and capped the ticket price at $90. <\/p>\n