Auckland's King's College is reeling from the death of another student but its headmaster is rejecting reports the school's ball was fuelled by booze and drugs. 

David Gaynor, 17, died after leaving the south Auckland school's annual ball at the Eden Park function centre last night.

He is the son of business commentator, columnist and company director Brian Gaynor.

Ambulance and police were called to Greenlane Bridge, south of the central city, at 10.30pm and rushed the teenager to Auckland Hospital, where he died a short time later.

King's College headmaster Bradley Fenner said the death was a dreadful personal tragedy for David's family, his friends and the school community.

But he strongly denied allegations the night's ball was marred by heavy alcohol consumption, saying no alcohol was served or allowed at the King's College ball.

"Media reports that the ball was marred by heavy drinking are absolutely incorrect," he said.

"There were a number of pre-balls held at private locations before the ball which involved both parents and students. All students were checked for any sign of alcohol impairment before they were allowed into the ball. "A couple of partners who were not King's students were excluded and their parents took them home."

David was an popular young man who had many friends, Mr Fenner said. He was a capable student and a good swimmer and soccer player, Mr Fenner said.

The Gaynor family had asked for privacy "at this most distressing time", he said.

Earlier today, former Auckland mayor John Banks said there was a drug and alcohol culture at the college which needed to change.

"It doesn't seem that very much has changed since we tragically lost James Webster to alcohol and the time for the college to take stock is now well overdue," he told NZPA.

"(Drug and alcohol problems) are not going to go away and it needs to be confronted by the headmaster and the parents sooner rather than later. It is a recipe for disaster. If I was the headmaster at King's College I would be immediately setting up an audit team of former students and others to see just where it has all gone so badly wrong."

Mr Banks, who is standing for the Act Party in the Epsom electorate, said David came from a good family.

"This will be a tragedy for them of unparalleled proportions."

Three students from the school died last year, including 16-year-old James, who collapsed unconscious after drinking spirits at a birthday party in Auckland in May last year. He was taken to a friend's home to sleep it off but was found dead the next morning.

Mr Banks' son, Alex, was drinking with James the night before he died.

Year 11 pupil Michael Treffers, 15, also died in May last year after an incident on the Market Rd overbridge on the Southern Motorway, and two months earlier William Thode, 15, died in his sleep at the boarding school from a rare viral heart infection.

At an inquest into James Webster's death, Coroner Gordon Matenga suggested parents and schools develop alcohol awareness programmes to teach young people about being safe with alcohol.