Teacher sacked for 'unbecoming conduct'

Buller High School teacher Wayne Tregidga has been dismissed from his job for drink-driving and speeding away from police.

The school's commissioner Janet Kelly said Tregidga had been dismissed for "conduct unbecoming of a member of the teaching profession and a teacher at Buller High School".

Tregidga had previously declined comment and could not be reached yesterday.

Mrs Kelly said "due process" had been followed. "The teacher was given every opportunity to respond."

The process began after Tregidga, 50, was convicted of drink-driving in the Westport District Court last month.

He had an excess level of 609mcg of alcohol per litre of breath - one-and-a-half times the legal limit - when police stopped him outside his home on May 26.

He had previously sped away from an unmarked police car and was clocked doing 89km/h in a 50km/h speed limit area. He had three young passengers.

Judge Noel Walsh fined him $500 and $130 court costs, and disqualified him from driving for six months.

Tregidga was already effectively on probation at Buller High. The school reviewed his future last year after he held a post-senior ball party, despite being warned by principal Peter Robertson not to do so.

Mrs Kelly said yesterday that Tregidga had received a final written warning for "inappropriate actions as a teacher in 2005", in relation to the party.

Tregidga has previously said he organised the party as a parent and it was well-controlled.

He said he supplied soft drinks and nibbles but did not provide alcohol, although party-goers might have brought their own.

Mrs Kelly said the school was organising a replacement teacher.

Tregidga, who faced being struck off the teachers' register, taught science and maths at the school.

New Zealand Teachers' Council director Peter Lind said the school and the teacher must forward a report to the council.

The council's complaints assessment committee would then investigate the case.

- NZPA