Kaitlyn MorrellMultimedia journalist ·Bay of Plenty Times·14 Aug, 2026 06:00 PM5 mins to read‌Schools in the Bay of Plenty are reporting some of their highest absence numbers of the year. Photo / 123rfThe spike in winter illness is being felt in classrooms across the Bay of Plenty, with schools reporting some of their highest absence numbers of the year.Principals say influenza and other respiratory bugs are driving much of the increase, with some schools recording sickness levels well above last winter.