Eight new Parker victims

Former Pamapuria School teacher James Parker was to have appeared before the Kaitaia District Court on Thursday for sentencing on 49 convictions of sexual offending against juvenile boys, but that is now expected to be delayed by the laying of 23 more charges relating to eight more victims.

The new charges include eight of performing an indecent act on a boy under 12 years, four of an indecent act on a boy aged 12-16, one of indecent assault on a boy under 12, four of indecent assault on a boy aged 12-16 and four of sexual violation.

The majority of the charges relate to alleged offending between 2006 and 2012, although two date back to 1999.

Meanwhile Pamapuria School commissioner Larry Forbes last week described disgraced Parker as a master manipulator who used situations and relationships to continue his offending.

Mr Forbes was speaking following the release of the independent report compiled by Auckland lawyer Robin Arthur, the 37-page document revealing that while many people had suspicions few took any action to stop him.

The reasons for the silence included concerns regarding repercussions should accusations against Parker prove to be unfounded, although many of those cited as expressing concern about Parker's relationship with some male pupils were in fear of Parker exposing himself to the potential for false complaints.

The closest he came to being exposed prior to his arrest earlier this year was in 2009, when one boy told his sister about being abused.

The sister told their mother who went to the police. Two other boys were named as victims.

One of the latter said nothing inappropriate had happened, while the other two subsequently retracted their allegations, in one case, at least in part, as the result of a discussion with his grandparents who told him that his allegation would destroy his teacher's career.

The report examines allegations that were made as early as 1999, that being the first time police became involved, when both Parker and his then girlfriend taught at Oturu School.

A teacher recalled the girlfriend telling him that everyone thought boys staying at Parker's home overnight was "dodgy," but it was "made OK" by the fact that she lived there as his girlfriend.

In fact, she said, the boys slept with Parker in his bed and she slept on the couch.

The report was unable to determine how much the full Pamapuria board of trustees knew, or the extent of principal Stephen Hovell's knowledge or actions. Mr Hovell had declined to be interviewed, while Oturu principal in the late 1990s, Fiona Lovatt Davis, was overseas and had not replied to emails.

The report concluded with a number of recommendations, some of which were described by Mr Forbes as quick fixes that had already been implemented. Others would take longer.

Mr Forbes described the report as thorough and objective, adding that it would hopefully help not only Pamapuria School but others to learn from "this dreadful experience" so it did not happen again.

So many suspicions - page 4.