Benson-Pope allegations not political, says accuser

Associate Education Minister David Benson-Pope at Wainoni School in Christchurch last week. Picture / Simon Baker

One of the men who have accused Associate Education Minister David Benson-Pope of assaulting them while he was a teacher says the allegations are not politically motivated.

Phil Weaver, who was 14 at the time, has claimed Mr Benson-Pope jammed a tennis ball into his mouth and taped his hands to a desk so he could not take it out.

TV3 last night highlighted allegations from three former students, including Mr Weaver, and said it had written statements from two others. Mr Benson-Pope stood down from the Cabinet shortly afterwards though he last week said in Parliament that the claims are "ridiculous".

Mr Weaver today told National Radio: "I don't even follow politics. In fact, the only reason I got involved in this is because I actually do know this teacher and these events that I've been questioned about did happen."

He had gone public after hearing Mr Benson-Pope had last week denied the allegations in Parliament.

"When I heard this was all fabricated, that this never happened, I thought, well, it's only fair that I should actually speak up to say that, no, this is not fabricated, this is definitely true," Mr Weaver said.

He said he would not do something like this just to spite someone and that he would co-operate with an investigation announced by Prime Minister Helen Clark.

She has asked Solicitor-General Terence Arnold what form an inquiry into the allegations should take. She said it would be an independent investigation "into the credibility of the allegations" against Mr Benson-Pope.

Other former pupils have come out in support of Mr Benson-Pope.

Palmerston North man Jonathan Depress said in a letter to the Dominion Post newspaper that he had been taught German by Mr Benson-Pope during the time he attended the school from 1975 to 1979.

Bayfield school, like most schools, had its share of bullies and incompetent teachers at the time but Mr Benson-Pope was neither, Mr Depress said.

He was one of his favourite teachers and had a "quirky, often jokey style of teaching".

He did not recall Mr Benson-Pope throwing tennis balls at students but did recall him squirting pupils with water pistols and hitting them with a "squeaky toy hammer".

"He didn't bully or threaten except maybe with lines or detention," Mr Depree said in his letter.

- NZPA

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