Teacher deregistered after inappropriate conduct with a student…

The Teachers Disciplinary Tribunal has found a teacher guilty of misconduct after he was alleged to have made inappropriate telephone calls to a student and to have inappropriately touched the student.

Although none of the touching was of a sexual nature the Tribunal found that it could lead to grooming and that the touching and comments (which did include matters of a sexual nature) were totalling inappropriate.

The teacher had 42 years teaching experience.  Once the allegations were raised by the student’s family the teacher voluntarily stopped teaching and does not intend to return to the profession.

The Tribunal cancelled the teacher’s registration.  The District Court in dealing with the matters made an order for permanent name suppression and the Tribunal also ordered non-publication of the teacher’s name.  This was based on the significant risk to his health through publication.




Alan Knowsley
Education Lawyer
Wellington