Tracey Martin
New Zealand First MP
28 Feb 2012

Strong Support for Ministerial Inquiry

New Zealand First Education spokesperson Tracey Martin supports the ministerial inquiry into how a convicted sex offender was hired as a teacher but points out that the vetting system needs checking as well.

The Ministerial inquiry was announced today by the Minister of Education, Hekia Parata.

Ms Martin says there are few details available at this stage but she hopes the inquiry will also cover the 2010 changes to non-teacher police vetting introduced by the government.

“It is unclear from official reports if this individual was employed in a teaching or non-teaching role but the key changes made by the government to the Education Act removed the requirement for schools to vet staff who did not work during normal school hours.

“This leaves the way open for individuals to be working on the school grounds after hours when sports teams are practicing, music and drama practices are on or even when children come to play on the school playgrounds.

“It would be sensible to use this opportunity to ensure that these changes have not put any more of our children at risk,” says Ms Martin.

ENDS

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