Ex Masterton teacher on child sex counts

ACCUSED: Former Makoura College mathematics teacher Charles Harter is facing indecent assault charges. PHOTO/FILE

A former Makoura College mathematics teacher has been charged with indecent assault.

Charles Harter, who taught at the Wairarapa school in the 1970s, and now lives in Hawke's Bay where he had been teaching drama and music at Havelock North Primary School, can now be named.

The Havelock North Primary School Board said it was shocked by news the 63-year-old had been charged with indecent assault. He is yet to plead to three representative charges of indecently assaulting two girls between February 1 and July 21.

Harter has taught, written and directed many musicals and plays for young people over the years, founding the Wellington-based Shoe String Theatre Company in 1982. The company has won many awards in festivals and dramas for his work.

In 2001 at the New Zealand Theatre Federation One Act Play Festival, his script The Magic and the Madness received Best New Zealand Script, Best Production of a New Zealand Play and Technical and Design along with taking the Best Overall Production Award.

Harter has been remanded on bail to re-appear in the Hastings District Court on September 2 to enter a plea.

Meanwhile, name suppression was lifted by the court this week at the request of the school, a statement from the Havelock North school board chairwoman Rachel Cornwall says. The school was working with police in the investigation, she said.

"As a board, we applied to have name suppression lifted as it was hampering our ability to communicate with our school family. We are pleased this was successful," she said.

"We are a small school in a tight-knit community. We have been working closely with police and other agencies to put in place measures to support our pupils, parents and staff. They are our first priority."

A police spokeswoman confirmed name suppression had been lifted at the request of the school board.

"Our board and school management team are working closely with the appropriate agencies and we are holding a joint meeting with police, Ministry of Education staff, and Child Youth and Family. Parents have details of this meeting. Information packages will be handed out at this meeting."

The school has set up a phone line for parents and a social worker is on site for students, staff and parents.

Parents with any direct concerns, pending the inter-agency meeting, have been asked to contact Detective Lisa Tod on (06) 831 0365 or email lisa.tod@police.govt.nz

The statement said the board would not be making any further comment at this stage.