A closed school is a headache for parents, children and teachers, yet planning appears to be scarce for up to 94 schools that could be affected by flooding as the tides rise. New Niwa models show Canterbury, Bay of Plenty and Waikato schools are the most likely to be hit by coastal flooding caused by up to 1 metre of sea level rise. Schools that could be in the flood risk zone after less than 50 centimetres of sea level rise include Napier Boys High, Kaiapoi High School and Opotiki College (see below for a full list). The rising tides could create flooding around school buildings and roads, affecting children s ability to get to and from classrooms. Seawater in pipes could cause toilets and sinks to back up, according to Niwa research. Despite this, the Ministry of Education had minimal adaptation plans in place.