Teacher faces weapons charge

A Bay of Plenty high school teacher facing drugs and weapons charges will appeal against a decision allowing publication of his name.

A Rotorua District Court judge yesterday ruled that the teacher's position as a role model gave him no better right to name suppression than anyone else before the courts, but the Herald is unable to identify the teacher because his lawyer said he would appeal.

The teacher faces three drugs charges - possession of cannabis plants, cannabis seeds, and utensils for smoking cannabis. He is also charged with unlawful possession of a firearm. Earlier charges of possession of methamphetamine and cannabis oil were dropped yesterday.

The teacher's lawyer, Max Simpkins, asked that the case proceed to a defended hearing and applied for continued name suppression on the grounds that the teacher was a respected figure among students.

"There's the possibility of his role-model status and leadership being diminished," Mr Simpkins said.

Mr Simpkins also said lifting the current interim order could affect the teacher's employment and cause stress to his family, particularly his father, who had suffered a heart attack.

But Judge Paul Geoghegan rejected the arguments.

"The mere fact that you are a teacher at a high school cannot carry any particular weight," he told the teacher.

The judge said a letter the school principal had written saying publication of the teacher's name would have a negative impact on the school and students was "speculative to the extreme".

"The sky is not going to fall in on the school," the judge said.

He acknowledged the teacher was "clearly a talented and very respected teacher" but did not agree his status would suffer.

"There's an argument that if one wants to promote oneself as a leader, one stands up and takes what's in the public eye."

The judge said any effect on the teacher's employment was limited to the outcome of the court process because the teacher was protected by the presumption of innocence while the matter was before the courts.

The principal could not be contacted yesterday and it is not known whether the teacher has been stood down.