There was no evidence offences had occurred at school.
Sometimes unusual behaviour was accepted because Parker had an adult girlfriend so people assumed he was safe with young boys. Others thought he wasn't a risk because children stayed overnight with their parents' permission.
Parker's closeness to some families and his mana as kapa haka leader made it hard for people to suspect or accuse him. Others felt their concerns would not be acted on because he was close to principal Stephen Hovell.
Before 2012, the closest Parker came to prosecution was in 2009 when a boy told his sister about the abuse. She told her mother, who went to police. Two other boys were named as victims. However, one said nothing had happened and the two others retracted their allegations.
Detective Dean Gorrie of Kaitaia CIB could not lay charges but wrote Mr Hovell a sternly worded letter about Parker's sleepovers, saying they had to stop immediately.
It was not clear whether the letter was read in full to the school board of trustees, which was given only limited information by Mr Hovell.
The 37-page report was prepared by Auckland lawyer Robin Arthur.
- APN
