Sex case cost school many thousands

Tauranga Boys’ College spent more than $11,000 on PR relating to disgraced ex-teacher Pinky Green who sexually harassed students in the 1980s, documents reveal.

As well as the public relations funds, it spent $45,000 on legal services relating to the historical case of Green, who is now dead.

However, the school has defended its spending, saying such “complex” cases require specialist advice to protect all involved.

Former student Glenn Marshall was propositioned by English teacher Green for bondage in 1988. He reported it, three other boys also came forward and Green resigned after an investigation.

The college reviewed the case in 2021 after Marshall complained about how it had been handled and sought a public apology. The review found its 1980s actions were appropriate for the time.

Marshall went to other authorities and media and in 2022 the college made a public apology to all former students abused while in the college’s care.

Marshall has made dozens of requests to the school under the Official Information Act (OIA), which revealed the school spent $11,320.61 for external public relations services from March 2022 onwards relating to the Green case.

Marshall told the Bay of Plenty Times he questioned how the school could justify the Green case spending what he viewed as “PR spin” and “damage control” when in his opinion, it continued to “fully stand behind its 1988 and 2020 to 2021 handling of the matter”.

Principal Andrew Turner said historical sexual abuse claims were “complex” and required the support and expertise of specialist services, both legal and communications, which “unfortunately, cost extra”.

“The college has needed to ensure that its communication with all parties — victims, staff, and community — has been accurate, and appropriate and protects the mana and integrity of all involved — not just the college.

“There are always things you can improve on and learn from in hindsight but from our perspective, based on the information we have received, the school dealt with this matter in 1988 to the best of its ability. The review of this . . . in

2021/22 confirmed this.” Turner said the costs included responding to Marshall’s more than

40 OIA requests.