Teacher suspended first day

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A primary school teacher was suspended on her first day at work after she admitted claiming more than $44,000 in various benefit payments over six years to overcome financial pressures.

The New Zealand Teachers' Disciplinary Tribunal has suspended the teaching certificate of Avalina Deonie Cook for six months after she failed to report her conviction on three charges of obtaining by deception.

She will have to inform any prospective employer in a position that requires her to hold registration as a teacher about her criminal convictions.

Her teaching certificate would be suspended for six months, or until such time as she could demonstrate to the New Zealand Teachers Council she had satisfactorily completed a budgeting course by a recognised provider.

Between June 2007 and July 2013, Cook received $31,561 in domestic purposes benefit, accommodation supplement of $8977 and a further $3973 in temporary additional supplement from the Ministry of Social Development.

She received the benefits while working at a number of places, including the Te Kohanga Reo ki Papatoetoe Whanau and Kiwicare Pre School in Auckland and Sylvan and Lanark House Early Childhood Centre and Ol-Wens Little School in Kerikeri.

Cook was convicted by the Whangarei District Court on September 19, 2014 and was sentenced to six months' home detention and ordered to pay back the $44,512 she stole from taxpayers.

The council first became aware of the charges Cook faced when it received a report from the principal of Manaia View School, Leanne Otene, on August 7, 2014.

A Complaints' Assessment Committee was convened to investigate the matter and referred her conviction to the tribunal.

Ms Otene said the school management was not aware of the charges Cook faced when she was appointed.

When she informed the management of the charges she was immediately suspended, which happened to be her first day in school.

Cook told the tribunal as a solo parent she tried to provide the best for her boys in school and the extra income was a big help.

"The extra moneys were not ever abused in any ways as I always found this a blessing and not my right to have obtained," she said.

The deaths of close relatives affected her and she described herself as having been in a state of depression throughout the period of her offending.

She attempted to change her life around by doing part-time work and studying.

Cook told the tribunal she convinced herself that because she was studying, she did not have to declare her income to the authorities and was entitled to receive the benefits.

Tribunal chairman Mr Kenneth Johnston said there was no doubt her actions seriously called into question her fitness to be a teacher and were in breach of her obligations.

"The tribunal has repeatedly said that benefit fraud is theft and particularly egregious because it involves theft from the public purse. This respondent (Cook) knowingly engaged in benefit fraud for a sustained period of time."