Principal to pay costs of inquiry into behaviour

The former principal who failed to monitor paedophile teacher James Parker has been ordered to pay more then $14,000 in costs by the Teachers Disciplinary Tribunal.

Former Pamapuria School principal Stephen Hovell was censured by the tribunal for not setting up a process to monitor Parker, after police warned him the teacher was inappropriately having young pupils to stay overnight at his house.

Parker was last year sentenced to preventive detention after admitting 74 sex charges relating to sleepovers with boys at his Awanui farm between 1999 and 2012.

Mr Hovell was dismissed in February last year after an investigation found he did not take appropriate action when concerns were first raised about Parker, his deputy principal. He was censured this year after the NZ Teachers Council's Complaints Assessment Committee brought charges against him.

The committee's lawyer, Gaelene Phipps, said the investigation into Mr Hovell cost $35,077.48.

Mr Hovell's lawyer Bryce Quarrie said the the committee had made its application for costs out of the 15 working days allowed.

However, the tribunal chairman said he would allow an extension. He ordered Mr Hovell to pay 40 per cent of the investigation cost of $14,030.99.