Alister Grant Harlow outside Auckland District Court on the day of his first appearance. Photo / Alex Burton
Alister Grant Harlow outside Auckland District Court on the day of his first appearance. Photo / Alex Burton
Two of the seven men charged following allegations of historical sex abuse at Auckland's Dilworth School can now be publicly identified.
Alister Grant Harlow and Ian Wilson both lost name suppression today at the Auckland District Court after their lawyer Steve Cullen did not seek a continuation on the order.
Harlow faces one charge of indecent assault on a boy over the age of 16 in 1990.
The 60-year-old Hillsborough accountant entered a not guilty plea this morning.
Wilson, who didn't have an occupation listed on his charge sheets, is accused of indecently assaulting a boy under the age of 16 on 12 different occasions between 1979 and 1982.
The 69-year-old Maraetai man was also charged with inducing a different boy aged under 16 to do an indecent act on him in 1977.
Seven former Dilworth teaching staff were charged last month with a number of serious offences, many of them sexual, against 17 victims. The charges relate to offending between the 1970s and late 2000s.
All were initially granted name suppression after their first appearances.
Dilworth School, an Anglican boarding school in Epsom, was opened in 1906. Photo / Dean Purcell
Three of the other seven men have also appeared in court this morning. All were granted a continuation of their interim name suppression order.
One is a 78-year-old who is facing three charges of indecent assault, relating to two boys.
The second, a 69-year-old, is facing one charge of indecent assault.
The third is a 72-year-old who is facing four charges of indecent assault, relating to three boys.
Meanwhile, the number of police officers investigating the allegations was bolstered last week and extra psychological support was made available following the public response.
Detective Senior Sergeant Geoff Baber, head of the inquiry code named Operation Beverly, said more than 70 people had come forward since the arrests.
"We are continuing to assess any information provided and investigators are currently making a number of enquiries into the additional information received to date."
Baber attended today's hearing and was seated at the back of the courtroom.
Dilworth College Headmaster Dan Reddiex (left) and Chairman of the Dilworth Trust Board Aaron Snodgrass addressed the media after the charges were announced by police. Photo / Greg Bowker
Dilworth headmaster Dan Reddiex, who was appointed last year, said on the day of the arrests that the school had zero tolerance for abuse of any kind.
"The health, safety and wellbeing of our students is our single greatest priority and responsibility.
"We know that a safe environment is instrumental to our students flourishing both personally and academically."
Editor's note
It has been a shock for New Zealanders to learn that several former staff at Auckland's Dilworth School have been charged with sex and drug offences against boys over more than three decades. We want you, our readers, to know that the Herald will follow this story wherever it leads. We have a team of journalists prepared to investigate and we want to hear from you. If you have any information please contact us at yourstory@nzme.co.nz
Murray Kirkness NZ Herald Editor
Where to get help:
• If it's an emergency and you feel that you or someone else is at risk, call 111. • If you've ever experienced sexual assault or abuse and need to talk to someone call the confidential crisis helpline Safe to Talk on: 0800 044 334 or text 4334. (available 24/7) • Male Survivors Aotearoa offers a range of confidential support at centres across New Zealand - find your closest one here. • Mosaic - Tiaki Tangata: 0800 94 22 94 (available 11am - 8pm) • Alternatively contact your local police station • If you have been abused, remember it's not your fault.
