Past teacher misconduct at Girls’ School exposed
Rangi Ruru ‘acted promptly and appropriately’ over two other cases
Aprivate girls’ school that employed a teacher who had an inappropriate relationship with a 16-yearold student has had two other former teachers found to have committed “serious misconduct” towards young women.
The teacher, legally known as Taurapa but previously known as Connor Taurapa Matthews, was employed as a te reo Māori teacher at Rangi Ruru Girls’ School in Christchurch in 2018.
He was simultaneously a house tutor residing in a boarding house at Christ’s College, which has a strong relationship with Rangi Ruru.
Taurapa’s misconduct was made public on Monday after a suppression order lapsed.
An email from Rangi Ruru Board of Governors chairwoman Nicki Carter was then sent to parents.
The email said that in March 2019, the school became aware of allegations of “serious misconduct” by Taurapa relating to a student, which took place during 2018 and 2019.
“The school acted promptly and appropriately as soon as it was made aware of the allegations, and the teacher was stood down immediately while an investigation was initiated.
“The teacher resigned from their position at Rangi Ruru in April 2019 while the school’s investigation was being undertaken.”
Carter said “proper process was followed” and the matter was referred to the Teaching Council.
“Our thoughts are with those impacted by this behaviour, and we commend the bravery of those who provided evidence in the case. We are incredibly disappointed that the former teacher breached professional standards and the trust placed in them. Teaching is a privilege, and high standards are something we expect our teaching team to uphold.”
The school’s board of governors reviewed the matter and had “complete confidence” in the principal’s management of the “serious misconduct”.
Carter said the school was “very disappointed” to recently learn of a former teacher, Andrew Maclennan, employed by Rangi Ruru from 2001 until December 2005, and his “serious misconduct” with a young athlete he was coaching in 2008.
“We are unaware of any complaints about this teacher’s conduct while he was employed by the school. Our thoughts are with the young person affected by his unacceptable behaviour.”
Carter said it was “likely” that the case involving Taurapa would “attract media attention”.
“It is also a possibility that in their reporting, the media will mention a historic serious misconduct case involving former teacher Gerard Coulson, which was made public in 2011.
“Both the historic and more recent case relate to individual former staff members and their behaviour and in both cases the school acted promptly and appropriately.”
Coulson, who was a teacher at Rangi Ruru Girls’ School, and married to another teacher at the school with children, quit over an affair with an 18-year-old Year 13 student.
Former Rangi Ruru principal Julie Moor said this week a mandatory serious misconduct report about the teacher had been made to the Teachers’ Council.
In her email to parents this week, Carter said the school took professional teacher and staff conduct with the “utmost seriousness”.
“Student safety and wellbeing will always be Rangi Ruru’s first priority, and we want to ensure all students have a school environment where they feel comfortable, safe and happy.
“Regardless of the era in which it occurred, behaviour that threatens the safety and wellbeing of any student is completely unacceptable, and we are committed to following the procedures outlined by the Teaching Council, as well as reviewing our own policies and procedures on a regular basis.
“We appreciate that this information will be upsetting for many and acknowledge that the serious misconduct of these former teachers is a distressing breach of trust for our school community.”
Support was available for affected students and staff, she said.
A parent of a student at Rangi Ruru, who wished to remain anonymous, said she wanted to have learned of Taurapa’s behaviour from the school.
“Instead, I found out by reading the Herald. The school did eventually send an email but after reading it, I’m left with even more questions.
“Why was he allowed to resign quietly and reinvent himself with seemingly no restrictions on him being around young people? It’s not good enough that the school enabled him to do that. I look at my daughter and it’s hard for me to understand this kind of predatory behaviour from a grown man in a position of such incredible power versus his teenage student.”
Yesterday, Christ’s College board chairman Hugh Lindo told the Herald the school had appointed barrister Janna McGuigan to undertake an independent investigation of all aspects of Taurapa’s employment. This would include talking with those affected.