Christchurch school principals say the Ministry of Education has been putting them under unreasonable pressure to reopen their schools.
The Canterbury Primary Principals Association says ministry staff are telephoning principals several times a day to ask when basic services will be restored and when their school will open.
Association president John Bangma says ministry staff are repeatedly asking principals about problems they have no control over, such as broken water pipes and sewers.
He says the barrage of phone calls has made some principals feel unwell.
Mr Bangma says the ministry has too many staff from different parts of the country calling principals.
Education Minister Anne Tolley says schools are being offered as much support as possible for reopening.
She says 88% of the city's schools are expected to reopen this week.
