Schools opting for a government grant instead of asking parents for donations are worse off than most wealthier schools who still ask families for money.
Results from an RNZ survey show some schools are requesting thousands of dollars from parents, and raising millions.
The richest are getting over a million dollars from parent donations - much more than those signed up for a grant. RNZ surveyed hundreds of schools three years after the scheme started.
RNZ In Depth reporter Farah Hancock reports.
