A Flaxmere teacher who assaulted students under his care has been sentenced to 300 hours community work and labelled a "bully" by one of the children's parents.
Wi Derek Huata, 53, a teacher at Maori immersion school Te Kura Kaupapa Maori O Ngati Kahungunu Ki Heretaunga, appeared in Napier District Court
yesterday for sentence after being found guilty in March of seven charges of assaulting pupils aged six and seven by pulling their ears in 2008.
Huata taught year two classes at the Flaxmere kura, which is attended by 168 pupils between years one and 13. The kura suspended Huata from teaching when charges were laid in 2009.
At yesterday's sentencing, Huata's lawyer, Roger Phillip, argued his client's methods were about "control", not discipline. Students' "disruptive" behaviour was a mitigating feature in the offending, he said.
Judge Tony Adeane refuted the argument. "You're entering very dangerous territory with that sort of submission," he said. Legislation did not allow for an argument justifying violence towards children on the basis of unruly behaviour.
Huata, who denied the accusations "to the bitter end", needed an "adjustment" to his attitude, the judge said.
"The unfortunate consequences were they [students] were compelled to go through another bad experience in court."
A victim impact statement read in court described Huata as "nothing but a bully".
His future as a teacher hinged on a pending decision by the New Zealand Teachers' Council, which was conducting its own inquiry.
"The way you rationalise your behaviour will no doubt influence their [council's] decision," the judge said.
In June last year another teacher at the school, Trevor Apihai, was also sentenced to 300 hours community work after being found guilty of two charges of assault with a weapon.
School principal Cordry Huata, a third cousin of Huata, did not return calls.
