He was remanded on bail until March 20, 2026.<\/p>\n
The offending is alleged to have occurred in July this year against a Wesley College day student.<\/p>\n
At the time, Harwood was working as a kitchen hand and living on-site at the school.<\/p>\n
He resigned in August after the allegations emerged and first appeared in court last month.<\/p>\n
Earlier this year, Wesley College principal Brian Evans told the Herald the student\u2019s family, police and Oranga Tamariki were immediately informed after the school learned of the allegations in August.<\/p>\n
After being notified of the claims, Harwood did not return to work.<\/p>\n
Evans said the school\u2019s first priority was the student\u2019s wellbeing.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe offered her and her family support, then handed the matter over to police for investigation.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe family expressed appreciation for the way the situation was handled under our safeguarding protocols … We have not identified any other students affected.\u201d<\/p>\n
Evans said the worker had passed police vetting and reference checks before being employed.<\/p>\n
Based on Wesley\u2019s investigation and the police inquiry, the school was satisfied there was no further risk to students, he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo sharing the information with other parents was not deemed necessary.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wesley College in headlines over student safety<\/p>\n
Last month the entire Wesley College trust board was dissolved and an independent review launched, after ongoing concerns around student safety and a public stoush between the principal and Education Review Office (ERO).<\/p>\n