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An Auckland teacher has been charged with sexually abusing a boy who was a pupil at the primary school he taught at.
Nicholas Raymond Baldwin faces 17 counts of indecent acts, sexual grooming and unlawful sexual connection with a child.
Baldwin, 61, was a teacher at an Auckland primary school where the boy, who was aged between 11 and 13 during the alleged offending, was a student.
He has been suspended from teaching at the school, which has permanent name suppression, since his arrest last September. He told the Herald that he denied the criminal allegations.
"We're fighting the charges because there is absolutely no substance to them."
He declined to comment further.
Name suppression for Baldwin was lifted at an Auckland District Court hearing this month, a decision that his lawyer, Roger Chambers, appealed to the High Court.
Baldwin wanted to keep his identity secret, saying he had yet to tell his 89-year-old mother of the charges.
An affidavit to the court said her health was frail and publication of his name would adversely affect her.
But Justice Lynton Stevens concurred with the earlier ruling and suppression was lifted last Wednesday, allowing the school to notify parents of the charges for the first time.
A depositions hearing will be held at the Auckland District Court in April to determine if there is enough evidence for Baldwin to stand trial.
The Crown alleges Baldwin formed a close relationship with the boy, taking him to his North Shore home and arranging clandestine meetings outside the school grounds.
Police allege the relationship intensified to sex acts between August 2007 and September last year.
In his submissions for the name suppression hearing, Crown prosecutor Nicholas Williams said police had leads in relation to two other potential victims.
The school where Baldwin taught was unaware of the police investigation until he was arrested last September.
Baldwin's bail conditions include staying at least 1km away from the school and not spending time with anyone under the age of 16 without adult supervision.
Mr Chambers was out of the country and unavailable to comment.
