Gisborne retailers are being urged not to serve students unless they have a pass to be outside school.
The call comes from a group concerned about the city's truancy rate, which is the highest in the country - 7.9 percent, compared to the national average of 4.2 percent.
The group, made up of police, Gisborne District Council, Child Youth and Family and school principals, has approached retailers asking them to adopt a "no pass, no serve" policy.
They hope retailers will implement the policy between 8.30am and 3pm, Monday to Thursday, and 8.30am and 1.30pm on Friday.
Tairawhiti Area Secondary Principals' Association president Jim Corder said there was a problem with young people not coming to school, whether they were severe truants or casual waggers.
"What we are trying to do here is get these kids back to school. They have a much better chance of success if they are at school rather than wandering the streets."
However, he said government funding for full-time truancy staff was needed to address the issue properly. He estimated the total amount needed was about $300,000.
Police youth co-ordinator Trevor Crosby said although the policy was a small solution to a "huge" problem, it was an important step.
"For years truancy has been a big problem here. The policy may not strike fear into truants, but it will deter them."
This would help police to get young people back to school, he said.
"The police are always the ambulance at the bottom of the hill, but we don't want to be."
Heart of Gisborne city manager Kathy McVey said she was unsure how many businesses were adopting the policy.
"Truancy has an impact on the CBD, not just on students, but on families and schools.
"The teenagers hanging about in town bunking school are sometimes, but not always, the same ones shoplifting and intimidating.
"I am hopeful that many of our retailers will be supportive in spite of the fact they might lose immediate sales."
