10. KATHERINE RICH (National) Link to this
to the Minister of Education
Does he stand by his statements to the House yesterday that “The ministry took every appropriate step it needed to” and that the Board of Hato Pāora “followed the appropriate steps” when dealing with concerns regarding serious allegations of sexual abuse made against the school’s principal?
Why is he adamant that the school and ministry took appropriate steps, when the previous Minister of Education, Steve Maharey, told the media when contacted about the case in August that if schools become aware of allegations of criminal activity they are obliged to alert the police?
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA Link to this
Under the inter-agency protocols police and Child, Youth and Family keep each other informed of allegations such as these. In effect, reporting to one is the same as reporting to the other, as this case shows.
Hon Mark BurtonCan the Minister outline to the House whether the inter-agency protocols were followed in this case?
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA Link to this
They most certainly were. This document, Breaking the Cycle: Interagency Protocols for Child Abuse Management, was done by that party in 1996 and has been adhered to by those agencies. Those inter-agency protocols have been in place since 1996. Where allegations such as these are made, school boards, as the employers, are required to conduct an investigation and report the allegations to either the police or Child, Youth and Family. The police and Child, Youth and Family are also required under the same inter-agency protocols to keep each other informed of such allegations. I am advised that the protocols were followed in this case.
If the inter-agency protocols are so robust, then why did a senior sergeant in Palmerston North commenting on the case, say that if there is a sexual allegation against a teacher at any school it should be reported to the police immediately and “police are the best people to investigate these issues fairly and properly.”, but at the time the media contacted the police they had not heard of the allegations at all?
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA Link to this
I have outlined how these allegations came about—from the board to Child, Youth and Family and to the police at the same time. That is the process in the protocols.
How can he stand by his statements in the House yesterday when the board’s investigation, aided by the ministry, found nothing, but the police investigation found sufficient information to press charges, which proves the point that such complex and serious allegations are best investigated by the police?
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA Link to this
I am advised by the chair of the board of trustees that she has personally assured that member of the process that was followed. The police statements in the press I am not too sure about, but I am most certain that the Ministry of Education has done its darnedest to ensure that this matter gets to a better place.
If the ministry from this point has serious allegations of sexual abuse brought to its attention by a school seeking advice about what to do, will the ministry in future advise that school to take such concerns to the police, or is the Minister just going to rely on the media to perform that service for him?
Hon Dr Nick SmithHon PAREKURA HOROMIA Link to this
That is outrageous, and the issue is that the ministry does its best, and most certainly it has been informed by the chair of the board, as that member was informed about the process. There is another issue that the chair informed the member about—stop politicising this ugly, grubby matter, and making it hard for those kids who are sitting their National Certificate of Educational Achievement right now; it is disgraceful.
When the Minister speaks of outrage, is it not more outrageous that the ministry can deal with the concerns of a school for months and not offer the common-sense advice that the allegations should be taken to the police, and is it not outrageous that the first the police hear about such serious allegations is from the local media when the police were contacted for comment?
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA Link to this
That is not true. The Ministry of Education is responsible for providing advice to boards about the proper conduct of investigations, and the policies and procedures they have in place. Schools may also seek assistance from the New Zealand School Trustees Association, which is contracted by the ministry to provide boards of trustees with administrative advice. The Education Review Office reports of 2004 and 2005 into Hato Paora School report no issues regarding the board of trustees complaints procedures.