WELLINGTON: A new advertising campaign, urging children to stay in school, has been launched by the Ministry of Education. The $2.1m campaign will target troubled teens with the message that if they don't stay in school they will face a future of unemployment, prison or worse - having to take a job at Mercury Energy.

Ministry of Education spokesperson Michelle Wills told reporters that if children don't stay in school until at least Year 12 they would find it increasingly difficult to gain employment and may be forced to turn to crime or work for unsavoury organisations like Mercury Energy.

"It is our duty to make children aware of the dire consequences that school leavers face when entering in the workforce without qualifications," Wills stated.