Police have confirmed to chrislynchmedia.com they are investigating after a threatening email was sent to a large number of Rolleston College students and staff overnight.

In a message to families, Rolleston College Principal Rachel Skelton said the school was aware the content of the email had also been shared on a local community Facebook page.

“Unfortunately, overnight some students and staff received a disturbing and threatening email message. We are aware that the content of which has been shared on a local community Facebook page,” Skelton said.

“We are working with police who received multiple reports related to the same email overnight and we will continue to take advice from them.”

Despite the emails, Rolleston College confirmed it remained open on Thursday.

“School remains open this morning. Any further information will be sent to the school community through the usual communication channels,” Skelton said.

She acknowledged the impact the situation may have on the school community, particularly as the incident followed a lockdown drill the previous day.

“We appreciate that particularly following our lockdown drill yesterday that the kind of communication sent may cause some anxiety and worry for learners and whānau but rest assured we are working with police and will take their advice related to any changes to this situation.”

Police said they were confident there was no ongoing threat to the school or wider community.

“Police have made enquiries after a large number of people received emails overnight, containing a threat to Rolleston College,” a police spokesperson said.

“Our enquiries so far indicate that the email was a hoax and there is no threat to the school or anyone else in the community.”

“We know that these types of messages are extremely unsettling for parents, students and school staff.”

“We’d like to thank those people who reported the email to Police so that we could investigate.”

Police are encouraging anyone with further information to come forward.

“We encourage anyone with any further information they wish to share with Police about this email to report it online via 105 and quote file number 250306/6655.”

The school has advised that any additional information can also be reported under police event number P061822024.