Dad's threat to smash school over absent daughter

File photo / NZ Herald

An enraged father threatened to smash doors and windows when he went to his daughter's Rotorua school to watch her get an award but found she was absent from assembly.

The actions of Arthur Alofaga, 34, have shocked teachers who said they try to teach children values such as respect and hoped parents lived by those same values.

Alofaga admitted his actions when he appeared in the Rotorua District Court charged with disorderly behaviour which was likely to cause violence and a charge of contravening a protection order.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Richard van Aren Donk told the court that in June 2006 a final protection order was issued in the Whakatane District Court listing Alofaga's daughter as the protected person.

On the afternoon of December 2, Alofaga went to Rotorua Intermediate to watch his daughter receive an award at assembly for athletic achievement.

However, the girl was in her classroom doing some schoolwork.

Alofaga went to the classroom with his wife and asked his daughter why she was not at the assembly. He became angry when she did not give a reasonable excuse.

The daughter ran away to the school office. Alofaga's wife told him to "leave it'' and left but Alofaga followed his daughter.

His daughter, who was crying uncontrollably, went into a separate office with a staff member who tried to console her.

Alofaga demanded to be let into the office. School staff refused and Alofaga swore repeatedly at them.

Threatening to smash the doors and windows, he picked up a chair and held it about his head. Staff called police and Alofaga's daughter became more hysterical.

He co-operated with police but several staff were needed to console his daughter.

Alofaga told police he was angry because he had taken time off work to surprise his daughter. He had received a letter about the award the week before but his daughter didn't know she was getting an award.

Judge Lindsay Moore declined an application by Alofaga's lawyer Wiremu Te Are for interim name suppression.

Rotorua Intermediate principal Garry de Thierry said after the hearing that he was very disappointed by Alofaga's behaviour.

Alofaga was issued with a trespass notice immediately after the incident.

Mr de Thierry said the school tried to teach students the values of respect and taking responsibility for one's actions and he hoped parents would also live by those values.

He said he would welcome a meeting between Alofaga and the staff.

Judge Moore ordered a pre-sentence report and remanded Alofaga on bail for sentencing on February 22.