Onslow College deputy principal on leave as police make inquiries
Photo:
Supplied/Google Maps Street View
A deputy principal from
Onslow College
in Wellington is on leave, while the police have confirmed they have received a complaint about a school staff member and are making inquiries.
The school told parents it was "undertaking a process" concerning Connor Baird, one of five deputy principals at the college, who is currently on leave.
The note to parents, sent on Wednesday morning and signed off by the principal and two board chairs, addressed a recent media query about "rumours circulating in our community relating to Deputy Principal Mr Baird, who is currently on leave".
"Onslow College is undertaking a process that ensures the matter is managed respectfully and fairly," it said.
But as the process was confidential, it needed to respect the privacy of everyone involved were not able to provide further information, the school statement said.
"We kindly ask our community to avoid speculation, which can have unintended consequences," it said.
"The wellbeing of our students, staff and whānau is our highest priority."
Wellington Police confirmed to RNZ they were making enquiries after receiving a complaint relating to an Onslow College staff member.
"We are working to determine if any criminal offending has taken place."
The teaching council registration database shows Baird has "voluntarily agreed not to teach".
It told RNZ: "When there are serious allegations made regarding a teacher's conduct, the Teaching Council's Triage Committee may seek a voluntary agreement with the teacher to step away from teaching while the matter is investigated to ensure a fair and transparent process."
It should be seen as a precautionary measure without any implication or assumption of guilt, it said.
"In general, the Teaching Council does not comment on complaints or Mandatory Reports that have been made to the Council (including confirming whether one has recently or previously been received in relation to a specific teacher, ECE centre, school or Kura). This is to ensure we act in accordance with the Privacy Act 2020 and the principles of natural justice."
Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero
,
a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RNZ News
11 minutes ago
- RNZ News
Hastings man Ri Nikora admits murdering his partner Kathleen Kawana
By Ric Stevens, Open Justice reporter of Kathleen Kawana's body was found in an empty house near Ruatoria on 3 August 2019. Photo: Open Justice / NZME This story describes family violence and murder and may be distressing to some readers. A homicide unsolved for five years was resolved on Friday, when a man pleaded guilty to murdering his partner. Ri Charles Raymond Nikora, 48, appeared in the High Court at Napier and admitted murdering Kathleen Lorna Kawana, 45, sometime between 20 and 22 June 2019. He also admitted injuring her with intent to injure - a representative charge for the violence he inflicted on her over the three years before her death. Justice Dale La Hood remanded Nikora in custody for sentencing next month. Nikora and Kawana formed a relationship in 2016 but continued to live in their respective houses in Flaxmere and Titahi Bay. Kawana was last seen alive at her Titahi Bay home on 20 June 2019. On 3 August that year, more than six weeks later, her decomposing body was found about 600km from her home in an abandoned farmhouse southwest of Ruatoria, dressed only in her blue checked dressing gown. It was found by someone who had just bought the property. Kawana's body was lying on a mattress and two camp stretchers were on top of her, covering her up. The abandoned farmhouse was well-known to Nikora, who had spent time in the area while growing up. A Crown summary of facts said that Nikora had left Kawana's Titahi Bay home with her in his car sometime on the night of 20 to 21 June. "It is not known whether she was alive or dead at this time," the summary of facts said. Police analysis of Nikora's bank records and CCTV footage showed that he drove from Titahi Bay, to Woodville, then to Hastings, Gisborne and finally to Ruatoria. "Either at Titahi Bay, or somewhere between Titahi Bay and Ruatoria, Mr Nikora assaulted Ms Kawana, causing her injuries which led to her death," the summary said. "Mr Nikora placed Ms Kawana's body in the boot of his car, either while she was injured or dead." Nikora accidentally opened the boot while trying to open his fuel flap at a Gull service station in Hastings early in the morning of 21 June. He is seen in the footage rushing to close the boot of the car and looking around to see if anyone had seen anything. On 23 June, Nikora sent a message to Kawana's daughter using her phone and pretending to be her, as if to explain her absence. It concluded: "No WiFi or txt chat you wen I can." It was not unusual for Kawana to be away from home as she often travelled to Hawke's Bay to be with Nikora. No efforts were made to find her initially as family members assumed she was in Hastings. Despite their close relationship, Nikora was not arrested for his partner's murder until May 2024, nearly five years after she died. The arrest followed the piecing together of an evidence trail and forensic work, including testing of seven cigarette butts and a soft drink bottle found near Kawana's body. Analysis found Nikora's DNA on them. Kawana's DNA was also found in the boot of Nikora's car, after he had sold it to someone else. A Warehouse receipt was found near the body. It was for a hoodie that Nikora was later wearing when he took a selfie on the inter-island ferry. During their relationship, it became clear to people who knew them that Nikora was jealous and controlling of Kawana. The summary of facts describes multiple incidents of violence and assault, including one where he beat her unconscious and performed CPR to revive her. A relative who saw her later that day said she had bruising all around her neck and face, and her eyes were bloodshot as if she had been strangled. On another occasion, a teenage friend witnessed Nikora punching Kawana repeatedly in the face and putting her in a choke hold until she "went limp". The young man was too scared to intervene. *T his story originally appeared in the New Zealand Herald .
RNZ News
11 minutes ago
- RNZ News
Three-month-old baby critically injured in Masterton, police investigating
Police are investigating how the three-month-old baby became so badly injured. (File photo) Photo: RNZ / Marika Khabazi A three-month old baby from Masterton is in a critical condition, with what police suspect are "non-accidental" injuries. The baby is in Auckland's Starship Hospital, seven days after being injured. Police say they were alerted last Friday after the baby girl had been taken to Wairarapa Hospital the night before and transferred to Wellington Hospital's Intensive Care Unit. Detective Inspector Haley Ryan said police were working closely with Oranga Tamariki and Health NZ and speaking with family. The police were urging anyone with information to share it with police. MORE TO COME...
RNZ News
2 hours ago
- RNZ News
Ex-National MP Jami-Lee Ross seeks political comeback
Jami-Lee Ross. Photo: RNZ / Simon Rogers Jami-Lee Ross, the former National MP who explosively laid a police complaint against his then leader, is standing in local politics . Ross has confirmed he wants a spot on the Howick Local Board in Auckland in the upcoming local elections. "I spent six years on the Manukau City Council before a decade spent in Parliament. I understand council and government processes well and I can put those skills to good use working at a local board level," he said in a statement. In 2018, Ross sensationally went to police claiming former National Party leader Simon Bridges asked him to collect and split a large donation to avoid disclosure rules. It followed an extraordinary and tumultuous time at Parliament - where Ross resigned and accused Bridges of corruption. There were secret recordings, photos released on X (formerly Twitter) , It was reported at the time as a leak scandal and full-blown turmoil . Bridges accused Ross of "lying, leaking and lashing out". In a bitter exit from the National Party, Ross went independent and said he had a mental breakdown as pressure ramped up on him to leave the party. In the end it was Ross and others charged by the Serious Fraud Office after his police complaint. Ross would be cleared of fraud charges after a trial. Jami-Lee Ross speaks to media after making a complaint to police about National Party leader, Simon Bridges. Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King There were also allegations he manipulated and entrapped women . In 2019, Ross used his social media platforms to say sorry to everyone he hurt, including Bridges. He said he began struggling with mental health as his job and relationships began deteriorating. After leaving Parliament, Ross had since been reported to be running an escort agency where some women reportedly had concerns for their conditions, welfare and safety. Ross said today he is to make a contribution again now it's five years since he left Parliament. "The council and local board have failed to keep up with the rapid growth of the Flat Bush community. There's no library, no swimming pool, no community centre, no real transport connections. Local residents deserve more value for their rates," he said. Ross, who is also a former councillor the old Manukau City Council, said he had the past experience and skillset to be an effective advocate for residents. Nominations for the local elections closed at midday on Friday. 13 August 2018: An update on MPs' expenses was leaked to Newshub. 14 August 2018: Questions immediately began on who had leaked the information before the official list of MPs expenses was made publicly available. Simon Bridges demanded an inquiry. 15 August 2018: Speaker Trevor Mallard announced an inquiry. 24 August 2018: A person claiming to be the National Party leaker sent an anonymous text to Bridges pleading for the inquiry into the leaking of his expenses to be called off. Hours later, Mallard called off the inquiry that was to have been undertaken by Michael Heron QC. 27 August: Bridges said he would be continuing with an inquiry. 4 September 2018: All 56 National MPs signed a privacy waiver to hand over communications dating back to the start of February. 2 October 2018: Jami-Lee Ross stands down from his portfolios and from the front bench of the opposition, citing personal health issues. 15 October 2018: Bridges said the inquiry report identified Ross as the most likely source of the leak, and he accepted that finding. Ross posts a series of tweets saying he was not responsible and that Bridges was trying to pin the leak inquiry on him. 16 October 2018: Ross holds a nearly hour-long press conference announcing he will step down from National and stand as an independent. He alleged Bridges had broken electoral donation law and said he would put in an official police complaint. Ross questioned Bridges' leadership and heavily criticised him. 17 October 2018: Ross emerges from Wellington Police Station after filing his complaint on Bridges. He releases audio of a phone conversation between himself and Bridges. 18 October 2018: Bridges says he's "gutted" by new allegations his former MP Ross manipulated and entrapped women. 22 January 2019: The embattled Botany MP apologises to everyone he hurt the year before, including Bridges who he tried to take down. He says he began struggling with mental health and that his job and his relationships started deteriorating. 30 January 2019: The Speaker announces Ross will not have access to National Party corridors at Parliament. 25 February 2020: Ross and three others plead not guilty to electoral fraud. 2 July 2020: A trial date is set. 15 September 2020: Now independent MP Ross announces he won't be standing for the Botany electorate, but will be on the party list for Advance New Zealand. 6 March 2021: It emerges Ross is behind a company reportedly planning to sell an anti-5G supplement. 7 October 2022: Ross is cleared of fraud charges over political donations, and the judge releases the reasons why. 17 March 2023: Concerns are raised at an escort business reportedly run by Ross. 1 August 2025: Ross confirms he wants a spot on the Howick Local Board in Auckland. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
