Letter to the Editor Thursday March 7, 2013

Duped by an expert

Kelvin Davis had so many things wrong in his letter to the editor (Northland Age, February 28) that I felt compelled to write to correct some of them.

Stephen Hovell is a man of very high integrity. If he had known what Jamie Parker was up to outside of school hours I am absolutely convinced he would have acted.

However, like many of us who thought we knew Jamie Parker, he was duped by an expert. There were so many people who interacted with Jamie Parker and who had not the slightest qualms about trusting their children, mokopuna into his care. Not just the parents and staff of the school, but also the government agencies who sent children into his class.

The ministry knew of things they failed to tell Mr Hovell about and he has always been scrupulous in following the guidelines set out by the ministry.

It is a bit rich of Mr Davis to speak of putting out a press release and in the same breath saying that Stephen Hovell was told not to talk to the press. In fact, Mr Hovell was told to leave the school and have no communication with pupils, staff or the public in any way.

His "paid holiday" was about Mr Hovell trying to do what the MOE had directed him to do. And it was painful for him not to have that contact with his pupils and staff.

I trusted my children into his care at Pamapuria School and would gladly trust him with the care of my mokopuna.

I had two occasions over the years of seeking Mr Hovell's assistance when I suspected children were being abused. He told me then that he had to follow strict procedures set out by the ministry.

I am convinced that he did so then and that he would have done so with the allegations made against Jamie Parker in 2009.

This honest good man has indeed been made a scapegoat by the ministry as there was failure in that department to alert Mr Hovell to the past concerns about Jamie Parker.

Mr Hovell has served the children and communities in the Kaitaia district well. He has been a great principal and deserves better treatment than has dished out to him. Instead of reaching his retirement years with accolades for his wonderful contribution to the education of our children he has been painted as a man careless with the responsibility given him.

The reference to Mr Hovell's salary is just absolutely scurrilous. Mr Davis, how many millions did you receive as a principal of a school much larger than Mr Hovell's?

How dare you impugn this man's character as you have. I had previously judged you a man of honour and was disappointed that you did not remain in Parliament.

I now know that we need men of higher calibre than you in government.

JAN SPINLEY Awanui