More Bay schools are expected to carry out police checks on people wanting to volunteer to help with sports teams and other school activities in response to new legislation designed to protect young people.
The Vulnerable Children's Act, which came into force on July 1, requires all new workers in state-funded jobs who may be alone with, or have primary responsibility for children, to be vetted by police.
New Zealand Principals' Federation president Denise Torrey said volunteers were not covered under the Act "but in good practice, over time that is what schools will and should do", she said.
Otumoetai College principal Dave Randell said his school had already carried out checks on people helping out with sports teams in response to the legislation being introduced.
Many schools had interpreted that such a move was required under the legislation.
"You have got to ensure all your young people are protected from any outside influence that may affect their welfare," he said.
In term two, the school had about 70 sports teams and it took his sport co-ordinators an entire day to compile a comprehensive list and "contact every person that had anything to do with sport", Mr Randell said.
"That was pretty hard but we have been as prudent as we possibly can. We knew the new law was coming up and we have just been proactive and tried to do it properly.
"I have got to make sure my kids are safe."
But he said there was a lot of goodwill in the school community and it was concerning that parents could no longer "take a carload of kids to town because I need 10 days to do a police vet [check]".
"You know your parents extremely well but you just have to be careful."
Mr Randell said he had never had to say "oh no, you are not fit to take one of my young people".
At the moment police vetting was free, but he said "they will be inundated" and he feared police would start charging as "their workload is going to increase substantially".
Meanwhile, Tauranga charities could stop taking on volunteers if proposed charges for criminal checks come into force.
The issue was back in the spotlight this week as the Law and Order select committee did not provide any exemptions for not-for-profit organisations. Therefore, the organisations would need to find another $5 to $7 per volunteer for police vetting, if the legislation was passed.
Volunteer Western Bay of Plenty manager Theo Ursum said the move would create barriers for groups already struggling with funding cuts: "I think not charging is a simple way for the Government to support the sector."
In 2014, 382 people had registered with its centre to become volunteers and 427 had signed up so far this year.
Volunteers were "a very important part of our 90-plus member organisations and they would struggle to maintain their service level or even cease to exist".
It may also affect some groups taking on volunteers in the future.
"It could because of the financial impact or some volunteer roles might be put in the too-hard basket."
St John Central Region Western Bay of Plenty territory manager Ross Clarke said any additional costs would come out of their operational budget "which is then less money we can spend serving our community".
The organisation had 130 volunteers within the Western Bay of Plenty and everyone was police-checked.
Volunteering New Zealand chief executive Scott Miller said police vetting was a core tool used by organisations to maintain volunteer and public safety.
Community organisations faced a long wait for police checks to be returned, he said, and this bill may well make the process even more of a challenge.
"A potential police commissioner's exemption does not go far enough to account for the cost community groups will incur if this bill is passed. Ideally this bill will be amended to consider supporting and keeping safe those volunteers who donate their time and energy."
Minister of Police Michael Woodhouse said it had always been the intention to provide for exemptions.
"However, the exemptions will occur through regulations, not through the Cost Recovery Bill which is an enabling legislation."
Now that the bill had been reported back by select committee, it would progress through the remaining stages in the House.
It was difficult to say exactly when it would be passed, a spokesperson from his office said.