Teacher deregistered after sex charge conviction

Former Porirua school teacher Stacey Reriti has been struck off the teaching register. Photo / Mark Mitchell

A female Wellington teacher jailed for having a sexual relationship with a boy has been struck off the profession's register.

The Education Council announced the decision today, two weeks after Stacey Reriti was jailed

Reriti was found guilty at a jury trial in October of seven sex charges against the boy, whom she groomed and had sex with once.

The boy was 10 when the offending began.

Council conduct manager Andrew Greig said the organisation moved promptly to strike Reriti off the register so it's unlikely she will teach again.

"Parents need assurance people like Reriti will never again be near children in an education setting. Reriti grossly abused the unique position of trust teachers are in. It is entirely inappropriate for her to be a teacher ever again."

Mr Greig said the council couldn't simply strike someone off the teachers' register and must follow a process under law.

"But we fast-tracked this process to remove her as soon as we could. While she hasn't been in a classroom for a long time, this sends a signal the council will take steps to expedite the process of removing such teachers from the register."

There are more than 100,000 registered teachers in New Zealand, and Mr Greig said such cases are very rare.

"The teaching profession is one of the biggest in New Zealand. As such, and unfortunately, there are cases like Reriti's, but it's still important to remember they are terrible aberrations. By far the vast majority of teachers are professional, caring, committed and safe."

The Education Council has also struck Raymond George Melrose off the register following his conviction this year for indecency offences against underage boys four decades ago.

Melrose is the former principal of Kaikohe Christian College in Kaitaia.