Teachers’ tribunal decision ‘does not affect employment at council’

The South Taranaki District Council says it is not concerned about a Teachers’ Disciplinary Tribunal decision related to one of its staff.

Reg Korau, the council’s iwi liaison adviser, was last week censured and ordered to pay $1972 by the disciplinary tribunal. He was also required to inform any prospective employer about the tribunal’s decision if he applies for a teaching job within two years.

South Taranaki District Council (STDC) acting chief executive Fiona Greenhill said the decision had no impact on his job. ‘‘We are aware of the tribunal’s decision and remain satisfied this does not affect his employment.’’

Korau, who left Napier Boys’ High School in April, was found to have accessed a dating website while supervising students, and also failed to disclose two driving convictions and charged the school for fuel when driving a school van for personal use.

The former head of Ma¯ori at Napier Boys’ was convicted of driving with an excess breath alcohol level and driving while disqualified, and ‘‘failed in his duty to notify the (education) council about his two convictions,’’ the tribunal noted.

Korau said he was not aware of the obligation.

Despite ‘‘driving while intoxicated posing a danger to the public’’ and the concern of a teacher modelling those driving behaviours, the tribunal found Korau did not pose a risk to students, given the offending took place more than three years ago and he did not have an ongoing problem with alcohol.

He used the school van for personal use, which was allowed by the school, but marked the use as for his department.

He had also been issued a final written warning as a result of a school investigation into communicating with other users on the NZ Dating website during school hours.

Korau stated he became entrapped in a messaging relationship with a female on the site. He cooperated with the school and the education council and sought counselling.

Korau was refused name suppression. The tribunal found that the sum total of the offences constituted serious misconduct.