Kohanga Reo head's 'tirade of abuse'

File photo / NZ Herald

A Kohanga Reo boss who yelled obscenities at a staff member before firing her, has been ordered to pay the employee more than $8000 in lost wages, compensation and costs.

Susan Kitching had gone to her employer Audrey Taukamo's Hawke's Bay house to attempt to get paperwork for her job, but was met outside by the woman with a "tirade of abuse", an Employment Relations Authority report said.

The authority labelled Ms Taukamo's behaviour as "appalling" and the public sacking "embarrassing" for Ms Kitching.

Ms Kitching was hired by Ms Taukamo as a part-time administrator for the Maraenui Kohanga Reo in Napier.

There was no written agreement, but authority member Paul Stapp said he was satisfied Ms Kitching was an employee of Ms Taukamo.

Ms Taukamo failed to appear for an authority hearing despite being served papers about it and notice of the date of the meeting, Mr Stapp said.

Ms Kitching had been working at the bi-lingual school since June 2010, but she told the authority she had problems last year with getting documents from Mrs Taukamo to do her work.

She said she asked for help from the Flaxmere office of the Kohanga Reo National Trust.

When Mrs Taukamo failed to attend a meeting Ms Kitching and two other people went to Mrs Taukamo's house on August 26, last year.

"...they were met with a tirade of abuse, were sworn at and Ms Kitching was called a 'f****** ball head' and was 'fired' on the footpath," the report said.

Ms Taukamo gave no evidence to the authority to dispute Ms Kitching's account and Mr Stapp accepted her evidence.

"The tirade on the footpath and outside Mrs Taukamo's home with two other people present would have been embarrassing and hurtful to Ms Kitching," Mr Stapp said.

"The impact of the dismissal on Ms Kitching has been personal and has affected her feelings, particularly Mrs Taukamo's appalling behaviour and the way she dismissed Ms Kitching."

He order Ms Taukamo pay Ms Kitching $5000 in compensation, $1628 in wages and holiday pay, and $2000 in costs.