Teacher gets community service for assaulting pupils

A hastings teacher said the disruptive behaviour of the seven pupils involved was a contributing factor to his assualt charges. Photo / Thinkstock

A 53-year-old teacher at a Maori immersion school in Hastings has been sentenced to 300 hours of community service after being convicted of sassaulting pupils.

Wi Derek Huata, a teacher at Te Kura Kaupapa Maori O Ngati Kahungunu Ki Heretaunga in Hastings, was found guilty by a jury in Napier District Court last month of seven charges of assaulting pupils, aged six and seven, by pulling their ears.

The offences happened in 2008.

He was found not guilty on three charges of kicking pupils and two of assault involving a chair and a ruler.

His counsel, Roger Phillip, told Napier District Court today that the disruptive behaviour of the seven pupils involved was a contributing factor to Huata's offences.

The Teachers' Council disciplinary committee would consider whether Huata could continue as a teacher after his convictions.

Judge Geoff Rea said Huata had adopted the tactic of pulling pupils around by the ear when they misbehaved, as a form of discipline.

He said Huata was entering very dangerous ground by arguing that his actions might be justified by the disruptive behaviour of the pupils.

Huata should be reminded of the impact statements from his young victims, with one saying that Huata's staunch attitude in defence of his actions suggested that he still did not feel real guilt over the assaults.

Judge Rea said that how Huata rationalised his behaviour would undoubtedly have an effect on how the disciplinary committee arrived at a decision on his teaching future.

The pupils had not only experienced the assaults at the school but had to go through their experiences a second time at Huata's trial last month, he said.

- NZPA