The net is closing in on students who decide not to show up to school.

A new scheme for truant-free areas will hit Auckland in 2016.

The partnership between Police, Auckland City Education Services (ACES), businesses and schools will target a range of truancy "hot spots".

ALASTAIR LYNN/FAIRFAX NZ Bunking hot spots for proposed truant free areas.

Auckland City Education Services manager Karyl Puklowski says a community approach is key, as it's a problem we all have responsibility for.

"Our whole theme is supporting Auckland city's future because as we keep young people in education they're less likely to be involved in antisocial activities," she says.

The latest Ministry of Education truancy report revealed about 9500 Auckland students are unjustifiably absent each week.

Rates have risen from 3.8 per cent of Auckland's school-aged population in 2013, to 4.7 per cent in 2014.

Puklowski says the scheme aims to discourage students from accessing retail, business and transport areas during school hours.

"It's these areas that have been identified which get the most thoroughfare," she says. "If we can start here and get everyone on board then hopefully it will trickle out to the rest of Auckland."

A memorandum of understanding has been drafted to ensure appropriate steps are taken to return truant students to school.

Senior sergeant Steve Samuels is the police's Mt Wellington youth and communities manager. He agrees the community will have an important role to play.

"A lot of problems down the line come from those with a lack of education. It's a key component for people offending.

"Anything we can do to get kids back in school is going to have a very big impact on the community."

The scheme will begin at retail areas in Glen Innes and then spread to Panmure, Sylvia Park, Onehunga, Mt Roskill and St Lukes.

Puklowski says the focus will be on working with students rather than against them.

"We want to get to the point of identifying who these young people really are.

"They might not be kids who are at school; they might have been suspended and not gone back.

"It's then a matter of how we can help."