An early childhood teacher has been charged with making an intimate visual recording after a recording device was found in a staff bathroom.
Police say no children have been identified in any of the recordings.
In response to questions from RNZ, Detective Senior Sergeant Natalie Flowerdew-Brown confirmed police received a report that a recording device had been found in a staff bathroom at an early childcare education facility in Mount Maunganui on June 30.
A 53-year-old man was arrested, she said.
“He is due to reappear in Tauranga District Court on 3 August, charged with making an intimate visual recording.”
Flowerdew-Brown said police could confirm no children had been identified in any of the recordings.
“As the matter is before the court, police will not be commenting further.”
RNZ has seen an email that has gone to parents from the early childhood centre on July 6.
The email said the staffer, a fulltime teacher, was arrested on July 2.
“The matter remains the subject of an ongoing police investigation and we have been advised that this will take some time. We are fully co-operating with that police investigation.
“While the investigation is continuing, we do not know the full extent of the matter.”
The email said all appropriate safety checking, including regular police vetting of the staffer, was undertaken.
“We know for some of you that this will come as a shock as he was a popular member of [the] team and well thought of by colleagues.”
The Teaching Council register confirmed the teacher had voluntarily agreed not to teach.
Ministry of Education spokesperson Tui Rolleston said the ministry was “supporting the service as needed”.
“Given there is an ongoing police investigation it would not be appropriate to comment further.”
This story was first published on rnz.co.nz 