A mother whose daughter had to pull her dress up and was patted down before entering a school ball says she's been violated.

The 17-year-old girl attended Wesley College's ball at the Ellerslie Convention Centre on Saturday.

She says girls were taken one by one into a room and searched by a female security guard who asked them to lift their dresses, with some revealing their underwear.

The girl's mother is a Corrections Officer and says the search was poorly performed because the guard didn't use gloves and used the palm of her hand, instead of the back.

Wesley College principal Dr Brian Evans says he's comfortable with the way security was handled and says the school hasn't received a complaint.

Callers to Simon Barnett and Phil Gifford Afternoons shared their opinions on the issue and whether or not they agreed with the girl's mother.

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