Teacher to face trial over alleged assaults on pupils

A Hastings primary school teacher facing 14 charges of assaulting pupils at a Maori immersion school was remanded for trial after a depositions hearing today.

Wi Derek Huata, 51, a teacher at Te Kura Kaupapa Maori O Ngati Kahungunu Ki Heretaunga, in the rural settlement of Bridge Pa, near Hastings, pleaded not guilty to the charges which relate to alleged incidents between January and December, 2008.

His lawyer, Roger Philip, conceded a prima facie case was made.

Huata, who has been suspended from teaching at the school, was remanded on continued bailed to appear in Napier District Court on March 8.

Prosecutor Nigel Wolland said the allegations included hair pulling and hitting some of the pupils. One had been hit with a ruler and another had a chair thrown at him.

A teacher's aide, whose name was suppressed by Judge Richard Watson, told the hearing she worked in Huata's classroom during 2008 describing him as "a good teacher now and again".

"He was a bit aggressive to some of the children and myself. I would advise him things children needed to learn or needed to do but I was told I was not the teacher and I shouldn't be telling him what to do."

She said Huata had manhandled some of the children when stopping them fighting and had tugged at their ears or nudged them with his foot when he wanted them to move.

However, she did not recall seeing him strike any pupils with a metre-long metal ruler or kick them.

Often the ear-tugging and pulling them apart came when the pupils were being verbally abusive.

She agreed a number of the pupils had behavioural problems and would often defy Huata's instructions. His physical intervention was often required to restore order in the classroom.

At one point in her evidence, a grandfather of one of the pupils made a comment and walked out of the courtroom.

When he returned a short time later, Judge Watson ordered him out, saying he would not tolerate any disruption.

Te Kura Kaupapa Maori O Ngati Kahungunu Ki Heretaunga has 168 pupils between years 1 and 13.

Huata is the cousin of Wi Huata, husband of former Act MP Donna Awatere-Huata.

- NZPA