Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Police say charges could be laid against students in Christchurch who have written malicious comments about their principal on a page of the social networking website Facebook.

Burnside High School second principal Sandra Sidaway says she does not know why the students are upset with the principal who joined the school in November.

Nearly 300 people have joined a Facebook page entitled "I Hate Burnside's new Principal." that features derogatory comments about Warrick Macguire.

Senior Sergeant Peter Stills says no formal complaint has been received about the webpage, but people need to understand their comments could be defamatory.

MS Sidaway says Mr Macguire has made minor changes to the school's timetable and music curriculum, but the matter is now with the police.

In July last year, a Queenstown student was threatened with suspension after he posted derogatory comments about staff at Wakatipu High School on Facebook.