12. KATHERINE RICH (National) Link to this
to the Minister of Education
Why does he continue to tell the House that the ministry first knew of sex abuse allegations made against the principal of Hato Pāora College on 3 August 2007, when he had been advised that the actual date the ministry was first aware was 1 August when the ministry received a call from the media?
Hon CHRIS CARTER (Minister of Education) Link to this
The Ministry of Education was asked on 1 August 2007 whether it had been informed of allegations of misconduct against the principal of Hato Pāora College. The inquiring journalist provided no more detail than that, and did not attribute the source of the revelations. In effect, the ministry was being asked whether it had heard a rumour about the employee of the board of a self-managing school; it had not. Indeed, the Manawatu Standard was so unsure of its information that it did not report it until 4 August—3 days after making the call to the ministry, and 6 days after the school had written to the competent authority on sexual abuse allegations, Child, Youth and Family.
Who is correct: the Minister, who said on Tuesday and yesterday that the school did not seek advice from the Ministry of Education; or the board chair, who said in August: “We sought advice from all the proper channels—the School Trustees Association and the (Education) Ministry.”?
The school informed the ministry on 3 August that it had completed investigations. It told the Ministry of Education that it had referred the matter to Child, Youth and Family, which it was required to do. Child, Youth and Family referred it on to the police. I can hear this barrage of interjections from people like Nick Smith; the bottom line is that a process has been in place since 1996, and the Hato Pāora College board followed that process. It did it speedily and it did it appropriately. What is the issue here?
Dianne YatesWhat support has the Minister provided to members so that they may familiarise themselves with this case?
I have now answered six almost identical questions from Katherine Rich on this issue. I have telephoned the member to ascertain what actual information she is seeking. I have arranged for the Ministry of Education to brief her on this case, which it has. I am mystified as to what the member is actually seeking. I remind this House that a protocol has been in place since 1996, and the school followed it in a speedy and appropriate way. At all times the interests of the students have been paramount. Continually dragging up this matter in this House shows no consideration for the welfare of these students, many of whom are currently sitting their National Certificate of Educational Achievement exams. The member does herself no credit.
When the Minister continues to say that the school followed all the appropriate steps—and he repeated it today—is he 100 percent sure that the school passed on all the complaints that it was aware of to Child, Youth and Family; if not, why not?
Did the ministry receive any information or warnings at the time of the principal’s appointment, regarding his suitability for the role; if not, is he sure about that?