Sex claims surface at Taratahi

MISCONDUCT: Claims of sexual misconduct involving Taratahi Agricultural Training Centre have surfaced. PHOTO: THINKSTOCK

Historical allegations of tutors preying on students and sexual misconduct at Taratahi Agricultural Training Centre have surfaced at a time when the beleaguered organisation is in the throes of restructuring and paying back millions of dollars in ill-gotten government funding.

The award-winning centre was the largest and oldest rural education provider in New Zealand and had a resident campus near Masterton and non-resident campuses in Northland, Auckland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Taranaki, Manawatu, Hawke's Bay and Southland.

Centre chief executive Dr Linda Sissons, who took over after the sudden death of previous head Dr Donovan Wearing earlier this year, said an accusation of sexual misconduct had been levelled at a tutor at the Wairarapa campus in 2010.

"I am aware of an incident in Wairarapa where a Taratahi employee was accused of improper behaviour. There was a formal disciplinary process and the staff member resigned."

Another similar allegation was made against a centre worker at the Northland campus about two to three years ago, she said. The claim was investigated "and found to be unsubstantiated".

Dr Sissons said she was also aware of a case linked to the centre involving a man, whose name and details are suppressed, facing charges in Masterton District Court of sexual violation and indecent assault.

"The important thing to say is that Taratahi is pretty vigilant in taking action with any inappropriate behaviour or misconduct. We have to take quick action to investigate anything that is alleged to have taken place."

Leaders at the centre admitted early last month that $7.5 million plus GST, for a total of $8.6 million, had been wrongly taken from taxpayer coffers and would be repaid.

The amount was calculated during a Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) investigation, which in turn triggered an ongoing Serious Fraud Office probe.

Dr Wearing had died the day after he was reportedly found critically ill in a shed at the Wairarapa campus after talking to staff about the TEC investigation.

Investigators revealed the centre had wrangled illicit funding over six years from 2009, including teaching hours in at least six classes that fell below required thresholds and the enrolment of 67 tutors on a general skills course in 2013, during which "little or no teaching took place".

Dr Sissons said a raft of proposed organisational changes at the centre were partly sparked by the TEC investigation findings.

According to documents confidential to staff, a fortnight of consultation on restructuring ends today that may include changes to senior leadership roles, accountabilities and reporting, new administration teams and command chains and the axing of roles.

Proposals seek to retain and cap the existing roll of 54 tutors, of the 135 staff at the centre, although "tutor numbers will be reviewed" if student rolls fall significantly next year.

Dr Sissons declined to comment at length about the proposals, which were "very likely to change as a result of the feedback that we get from the staff". She said an announcement would be made by the end of the month.

"The aim of the restructuring is to strengthen our regional operations; to grow some of our capabilities, particularly at diploma and higher levels; and to strengthen our reporting capabilities in light of the TEC review."

Board chairwoman Mavis Mullins said in the consultation document foreword that positivity was needed, as the "focus on us in the last few weeks has been negative". She highlighted the "many messages of support from those who know and value what we do every day".

"We have turned the corner and can now look at ensuring the organisation is match-fit."