School paradise for predator

A powerful, popular teacher of religious studies abuses his students at a Catholic Maori school. LIBBY MIDDLEBROOK looks at what went on at Hato Petera.

The 14-year-old boy expected a ride to his grandfather's Bay of Plenty home when he hopped into a car with Kaperiere Petera Leef.

But his journey ended kilometres away at the White Island Rendezvous Motel in Whakatane, where he had to share a bed with the 45-year-old head of religious studies from Hato Petera College.

That night the boy became a victim of sexual abuse by Leef, a man who is HIV-positive and had taught at the Northcote Catholic Maori boarding school since 1996.

In the High Court at Auckland yesterday, Leef pleaded guilty to five charges of indecent assault on five Hato Petera students aged 13 to 15. He also admitted one charge of sexual violation.

Leef could not have been in a better position to take advantage of the boys in his care. He was a powerful figure at the school, with considerable authority and influence over its students. Director of religious studies, fourth-form dean and te reo Maori teacher were just a few of his senior responsibilities.

He was highly popular with parents, students and staff, who saw him as a pleasant, friendly man who took time out to manage the junior basketball team and Maori cultural events.

But probably the most troubling aspect of Leef's role at the school was his appointment as a kainga (dormitory) parent last year, which involved him supervising and caring for about 10 boys out of school hours and overnight.

It was in the dormitory that he repeatedly indulged himself, creeping into a 14-year-old boy's room at night to indecently assault him.

More assaults on other students occurred in numerous parts of the school, from the computer class to a printing room.

They involved Leef rubbing thighs, buttocks and unbuttoning a pair of trousers.

Outside the grounds, assaults occurred inside Leef's Papatoetoe home, when boys stayed overnight before going to Rainbow's End the following day. He bought them food and hired videos and a PlayStation before abusing them.

When two students travelled to a Northland funeral with Leef last year, one told the other that he wanted to swap his front seat in the car for a back seat because Leef had been trying to "feel him up."

On another occasion, Leef, himself a former student of Hato Petera, invited a 14-year-old-pupil to his new Northcote home after school and began to abuse the boy as he slept. When the boy awoke and yelled in fright, Leef said: "I can't help it."

He is the second Hato Petera staff member to be convicted of indecent assault. The first was former cultural group head Phillip John Munro, who pleaded guilty to assaulting three students during the 1970s and 1980s.

Leef appeared composed during his court appearance yesterday. Dressed in black shoes, pants and shirt, he whispered "guilty" to each of the six charges before being led away to jail to await sentencing.

There were no victims or their families inside the courtroom. Leef had only one supporter, who said she was present "because I like him."

Detective Sergeant Scott Beard was reluctant to discuss the case with the Herald until the sentencing on April 24, but he said Leef's guilty plea "vindicates the victims."

"There were a lot of people within the school community who doubted ... didn't believe the victims," said the detective.

John McCarthy, director of Safe, an agency providing treatment for adult and adolescent sexual offenders, said paedophiles were often well trusted by people who knew them.

They spent time with children or their families developing friendships, a process commonly referred to in paedophile circles as "grooming."

"They will start to become sexual with them in low-key ways. It might start with a hug and then maybe more sexual touching over time ...

"Because it appears so normal, it's difficult for children and their families to see this coming often."

The parents of victims could not be contacted.

The school's spokesman on the case, Willie Te Aho, largely declined to comment because of the pending sentencing.

He said the school continued to run a helpline for concerned students and parents (0800 002 785) and offer counselling to the victims.

"The key outcome we're looking for is the sentence so we can start the healing process.

"Our focus is on the victims and their families and moving ahead."

When the allegations surfaced last November, Hato Petera was beginning to arrest a decline in its roll.

A revamp of its boarding structure about three years ago offered parents an alternative from the traditional dormitory accommodation common to most boarding schools in New Zealand.

Kainga (homes) were established, each housing about 10 students and two "kainga parents" employed by the school.

Together they share all the chores of a normal family household, such as cooking and cleaning, while kainga parents oversee students' homework.

Surprisingly, the allegations of sexual abuse have not affected student numbers. No parents have removed their children from the school, says acting principal Tracy O'Brien, who is standing in for Brother David MacDonald while he spends a year on sabbatical leave in Rome.

Mr O'Brien said student enrolments were up 20 from last year to 112 students last month.

"There was a real fear that the roll might drop ... We took that [increase] as a vote of confidence from parents and the community."

The state-integrated school continues to attract most of its boarders from the Far North, including the Hokianga area, where Leef once lived.

Parents pay annual fees of about $5000 for their children to board at the co-educational school, with day pupil fees set at about $400.

Mr O'Brien said the school was beginning to "shrug off the past" and become more positive, although it had never lost its wairua (spirit) during the controversy.

Students continued to attend chapel each morning from 8.45 to 9.

"The school's got a wonderful strong wairua, the kids have a strong sense of school spirit and pride."

Seventy-three-year-old Hato Petera was also developing a new long-term vision and had the potential to become the country's premier Maori boarding school, he said, although there were difficulties to overcome in the short term.

"The school's been left a little to run down, and that's affected the morale of the school.

"For some reason Maori schools around the country haven't kept pace with the standards and resources other state schools get."

Hato Petera has joined a paerangi (union) with six other Maori schools to lobby for more money.

They are putting together an application to the Government for funds to upgrade the schools, particularly in areas such as technology and music.

Forging a stronger link with its local community is also a top priority for Hato Petera.

"The school has been isolated in the past in an area of affluent surroundings," said Mr O'Brien. "We really want to bring the community on board."