Timothy Fisher, who has historic indecency convictions and was jailed last week for abusing girls while a teacher, also moonlighted as a Santa at three Auckland Westfield malls. Main photo / Sylvie Whinray
Timothy Fisher, who has historic indecency convictions and was jailed last week for abusing girls while a teacher, also moonlighted as a Santa at three Auckland Westfield malls. Main photo / Sylvie Whinray
A company that recruits Santas for shopping centres and corporate events is shocked a rival firm hired a man with indecency convictions to pose with children as father Christmas at three Auckland malls.
It’s emerged Australian firm Scene to Believe failed to carry out any police vetting before contracting disgracedteacher Timothy Fisher as a Santa at Westfield Manukau, Westfield Newmarket and Westfield St Lukes in 2022 and 2023.
Fisher - who concealed his previous offending under the Clean Slate Act when applying for registration with the Teaching Council - has since been jailed for abusing young girls at a private after-school tutoring company.
In a statement to the Herald, Scene to Believe’s managing director Stefan Hutton said the safety and well being of children was the company’s “highest priority”.
A review was now underway into the company’s processes.
Hutton said all Santas and photography staff were required to undergo screening before commencing employment.
“This includes criminal record checks, reference checks and requiring a declaration from applicants to disclose any criminal history.”
Hutton said Santa sets were under constant supervision by trained managers, the company employed a child safety officer and had a detailed child safety policy covering recruitment, training and operations.
“In addition to these existing measures, a review is underway of our processes and changes are continuing to be made including expanding child safety training for all team members.”
Timothy Fisher worked as a Santa at three Westfield malls in 2022 and 2023. He has historic indecency convictions and was last week jailed for abusing nine girls while employed as a teacher.
However, Steve Sargent, the general manager of rival firm Lowie Recruitment International, said the lapse was unfathomable for a company working in close proximity to children.
Sargent said his company thoroughly screened every Santa before hiring them for work. This included recent police vets conducted within the last three month, as well as interviews and reference checks.
Police vetting for mall Santas was an absolute bottom line to ensure applicants had no criminal convictions or unsavoury pasts, he told the Herald.
He was horrified to learn Scene to Believe hadn’t carried out this basic safety measure.
“I couldn’t believe it. That’s the first step. If you do nothing else, that’s the first thing you should be doing. A police check - 100%.”
Sargent was surprised Fisher could conceal indecent act convictions under the Clean Slate Act.
“I thought it was only minor crimes.”
He also felt the mall operator, Scentre Group, was jointly responsible as a major international company for ensuring the safety of children in its facilities.
A spokeswoman for Scentre told the Herald last week the company had launched a review after learning of a “third party” Santa photography supplier’s vetting failure.
“We recognise this is a very distressing time for the victims and we extend our support to them,” a statement from Scentre’s corporate affairs department said.
“We take safety and the duty of care to our customers and community extremely seriously.”
Timothy Fisher in the dock at Manukau District Court for sentencing by Judge Sacha Nepe on 14 charges including committing indecent acts on children. Fisher offended against young students while working as an English tutor. 14th August 2025, New Zealand Herald photograph by Sylvie Whinray
Police told the Herald Fisher had been subject to four police vets, all at the request of the Teaching Council.
“There’s no record of any other agency or prospective employer that we’re aware of.”
Detective Senior Sergeant Martin Bienvenu, Counties Manukau CIB,said police phoned the company that hired Fisher in October last year after learning the English teacher had been hired as a Santa at Westfield malls the previous two years.
“In this phone call, police recommended that the company vet Fisher before they hired him again.”
Bienvenu said that at the time of the call, Fisher was facing numerous active charges of indecent assault for which he has now been convicted.
“As a result of the investigation, and the identified risks surrounding Fisher, police had an obligation to keep the public safe and prevent any victimisation,” Bienvenu said.
He was jailed earlier this month for four years and five months after pleading guilty to 14 charges, which included committing indecent acts on children and making objectionable material.
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