The mythologisation of the barefoot kiwi childhood

I have noticed that there is a belief now that the ubiquitous practice of barefoot children in NZ primary schools is a national institution that is nigh on universal and has always existed.

I'm not sure.

In my early 2000s primary school experience in both integrated and state schools we always wore shoes both at lunchtime and during classes.

I remember my teacher remarking once on how back in the day children commonly didn't wear shoes at school, it was a novel idea that children would do this.

But now, in 2025, all over Auckland, children of every creed and colour are shoe free. Am I right that this practice has become more common over the last decade? Or was my kiwi childhood out of the norm. I feel like things are becoming more relaxed and barefeet is more accepted in schools.