1. Hon BILL ENGLISH (National—Clutha-Southland) Link to this
to the Minister of Education
Does he stand by his statement that: “I am also aware that Mr Benson-Pope has stated that his behaviour complied with school policy at the time”; if so, does he believe that that statement includes all allegations that have come to light about the Hon David Benson-Pope’s conduct as a teacher, including those investigated by police?
Hon STEVE MAHAREY (Minister of Education) Link to this
Yes. I stand by my statement that Mr Benson-Pope has stated that his behaviour complied with school policy at the time. A large number of allegations have been made about Mr Benson-Pope’s conduct by members opposite, but they remain without foundation. The allegations contained in the police report were, of course, the subject of a wide-ranging investigation that resulted in no action being taken by the police, who noted at the time that these alleged events happened many years ago, and the victims were not motivated to lay complaints at the time.
Is the Minister aware of a complaint from a former Bayfield High School teacher that Mr Benson-Pope had bullied her, that there was a formal mediation, and that she received a letter of apology from Mr Benson-Pope?
Hon STEVE MAHAREY Link to this
I am aware of that incident. I am also aware that the apology was mutual.
Hon Phil GoffDo the comments on the files of the police investigation into Mr Benson-Pope that the Minister referred to support the innuendo of Mr English and Ms Collins, or do they indicate that, overwhelmingly, fellow teachers and students alike regarded David Benson-Pope as competent, as dedicated, and as a respected and popular teacher?
Hon STEVE MAHAREY Link to this
I am well aware of the reports that say exactly that—that this was a person with a 24-year, respected, professional career.
Rt Hon Winston Peters Link to this
Is the Minister aware of reports from Labour caucus colleagues that Mr Benson-Pope bullied them, but in every case their complaints were unwarranted?
Madam SPEAKERCan the Minister confirm, in the case of the bullying complaint, that a complaint was certainly made, that it was dealt with formally, and that Mr Benson-Pope took action himself by writing a letter of apology; and does the Minister now accept Mr Benson-Pope’s statement to the House that he is unaware of “any complaint of any kind”?
Hon STEVE MAHAREY Link to this
I am not intimate with every single detail of this event. I said before that those people laid complaints and mutually apologised to each other. I imagine that the same kind of bullying behaviour has gone on between Mr English and his party, but I am sure that no one has apologised to him—yet—for dumping him as leader.
What reports has the Minister seen that support Bill English’s assertion “that teachers’ unions and the public are united in their condemnation of Mr Benson-Pope”?
Hon STEVE MAHAREY Link to this
I have not heard any such reports. Indeed, last night on television I watched the people of Dunedin say unanimously that they supported their local MP. I also heard the following comments on Television New Zealand’s Close Up programme, from Principals Federation president, Pat Newman—[]
Please be seated. In question time yesterday members complained they could not hear answers to questions. So I would remind members that of course they can interject, but they are to keep the barrage down so that all members can hear the answer.
Hon STEVE MAHAREY Link to this
I have heard no such reports. Indeed, I watched television last night to see the people of Dunedin unanimously supporting their local MP. I also heard the following comments on Television New Zealand’s Close Up programme, from Principals Federation president, Pat Newman: “It is not election year. Politicians have a responsibility to look at the harm they are doing to our profession by jumping on the bandwagon that’s not yet been proven. Stop demeaning male teachers, and stop attacking them.”—very good advice to Mr English.
Does the Minister share the view of the Prime Minister that the school camp complaints referred to in the House yesterday were not serious, so Mr Benson-Pope’s statement to the House—that he did not know of any complaint of any kind—was acceptable; if so, does the Government believe that the second bullying complaint is also too trivial for Mr Benson-Pope to remember, and that it is therefore acceptable for him to mislead the House about that complaint, as well?
Hon STEVE MAHAREY Link to this
It is not my recollection that the Prime Minister said yesterday that the complaints were not serious. What she was saying was that they were not formally laid and did not lead to disciplinary action. That leaves open the fact that people often complain about what teachers might do—as Mr Brownlee knows—but that does not lead to disciplinary action.
Now that the House has established that there were certainly two complaints of a serious nature against Mr Benson-Pope, which he must have known about, is it still the Minister’s position that Mr Benson-Pope’s statement: “I am not aware of any complaint of any kind.”, was a statement of the truth?
Hon STEVE MAHAREY Link to this
My understanding is that Mr Benson-Pope has consistently noted that he was referring to formally laid complaints that lead to disciplinary action, not the normal discussion that goes around any school. In that sense he has adopted an honest approach.
Is it now the Government’s position, in respect of the school camp complaints, that Mr Benson-Pope knew about them, but because he knew they were dealt with outside the formal disciplinary process, he did not have to tell the House; and in respect of the bullying complaints, Mr Benson-Pope knew about that matter as well, but he did not regard a formal mediation by his own union as a process that warranted rating it as a serious complaint—so he could mislead the House on that one, too?
Hon STEVE MAHAREY Link to this
The accusations that Mr Benson-Pope has misled the House are simply wrong. He has consistently made it clear that the normal complaints that go around schools, which people such as Mr Brownlee will be aware of, do not constitute the kinds of formal complaints he was referring to.