\u201cI have requested and received initial information from the Ministry and have made my expectations to the secretary of education clear.\u201d<\/p>\n
The school\u2019s principal did not respond to a request for comment by time of publication.<\/p>\n
In 2023, the man pleaded guilty to having a sexual connection with the teen, and indecent communication, which included sending photos of his genitals. <\/p>\n
A judge at the time said a conviction would be a \u201ccrushing blow\u201d to his future prospects, finding that \u201cthe gravity of the offending viewed as a whole is relatively low\u201d, and he was granted a discharge without conviction as well as permanent name suppression.<\/p>\n
The court ordered an emotional harm payment to the victim of $2000.<\/p>\n
Superintendent Blair Macdonald confirmed police did receive a vet request from the man\u2019s employer and the circumstances of \u201cwhat occurred\u201d were shared with the requester, along with the fact the man was discharged without conviction. <\/p>\n
The Herald is not aware of what specifically was communicated to the school about the admitted offending. <\/p>\n
Police Minister Mark Mitchell (right) and Police Commissioner Richard Chambers. Photo \/ Mark Mitchell<\/p>\n
Mitchell said he was satisfied police had done their job. <\/p>\n
\u201cPolice are responsible for the vetting of individuals on request from the agency concerned, and for relaying on its findings. Beyond this point, decisions on suitability for a role sit with the requesting agency.\u201d<\/p>\n
On whether admitted sex offenders should work at schools, Mitchell said: \u201cI am sure we would all agree, that would not be appropriate.\u201d<\/p>\n
The former athlete declined to comment through his lawyer. <\/p>\n
The school has been approached for comment. <\/p>\n
The victim\u2019s mother is horrified by the situation and also believed parents should have the right to know he is working there.<\/p>\n
\u201cThose girls and young women and their parents will not be aware of it, so they can\u2019t take measures to protect them.\u201d<\/p>\n
She said if the school knew about his history and still employed him it was \u201cabhorrent\u201d.<\/p>\n
Her daughter, she said, had now given up on justice and felt that \u201csportsmen get away with things\u201d. <\/p>\n
In her opinion: \u201cThe sport and their success in sport comes ahead of the safety of young women and girls.\u201d<\/p>\n
The success of an individual\u2019s career, she said, should never take precedence over the rights of victims.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you knew, as a parent, you would not send your young women and girls to learn from him. Parents would boycott.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey should know, parents should be given the opportunity to make informed choices about their children\u2019s safety.\u201d <\/p>\n
Ministry of Education operations and integration acting leader Julia Hardacre said school boards have a legal and non-negotiable obligation to ensure every person they employ is safe to work with children.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis includes completing full safety checks under the Children\u2019s Act 2014 \u2013 such as identity verification, police vetting, reference checks and rigorous risk assessments.\u201d <\/p>\n
\u201cAny past behaviour involving a young person must be treated with the utmost seriousness.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hardacre said boards must always err on the side of caution when making employment decisions involving anyone working with children.<\/p>\n
Boards are also required to have robust child protection policies and the ministry will intervene if legal requirements are not met.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf the ministry is provided with information, or if a complaint is made about a board\u2019s safety\u2011checking processes, the ministry will act immediately.\u201d<\/p>\n
When asked whether the ministry had intervened in this situation, it said it could not comment on case specifics. <\/p>\n
The agency also shared that a new memorandum was recently signed between government agencies, including the Ministry of Social Development and NZ Police, to enable faster alerts and more proactive responses to identified risks. <\/p>\n
Katie Harris is an Auckland-based journalist who covers issues including sexual assault, workplace misconduct, media, crime and justice. She joined the Herald in 2020.<\/p>\n