An Auckland state primary school will hold religious instruction classes outside of normal school hours after parents complained to the Human Rights Commission.



The classes will be taken off the normal timetable for five and six-year-olds at St Heliers School, Radio New Zealand reported.



Roy Warren, whose 5-year-old son goes to the school, was one of two parents who complained to the commission last month about the 30-minute sessions.



He said he got an email from the school on Monday saying the classes would be moved to outside school hours.



He was pleased with the decision and hoped other schools running similar programmes would follow this example.



Before the change, families could opt out of the programme but Warren said this would isolate his son.



Parents will now have the choice of whether their children took part in the programme.