Second alleged sex offender linked to school

Another alleged sex offender has been working as a volunteer at a breakfast programme in a South Auckland school. Photo / Thinkstock

Another alleged sex offender has been linked with a school - this time working as a volunteer at a breakfast programme in South Auckland.

The man was charged late last month with sexual offending against children going back several years.

The Weekend Herald understands between that time and his arrest he has worked as a volunteer on the breakfast programme at decile 1 Edmund Hillary School, in Papakura.

It is the second controversy involving sex offenders and schools this week after revelations a convicted sex offender worked as a teacher in several Auckland schools.

An inquiry is now under way to determine how that man - who has name suppression - was able to use several aliases and avoid detection by the Teachers Council, police and the Department of Corrections.

In the latest case there is no suggestion of any offending at the school while he was volunteering.

One father was outraged at the news and the lack of consultation from the school.

"We've tried contacting the principal and they're ignoring us ... They've had a staff meeting this morning and were told not to talk to the media or anything else but we don't know what's bloody happening as parents," he said.

Principal Kataraina Nock yesterday refused to comment or say why parents had not been told of the arrest, which happened last week.

"The matter is with the police and if you want any information about it you should ring them. Other than that I have no comment to make."

The acting police area commander Counties Manukau South, Detective Inspector Dave Lynch, said the man had been under investigation since last year when the allegations were first made.

Nicholas Pole, deputy secretary, special education, said the Ministry of Education was notified about the allegations yesterday afternoon.

"The ministry's priority is the safety of staff and students. The ministry responded immediately by visiting the school and offering any necessary support."

He said the ministry did not believe the two cases were related.