Conduct Concerns
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Assessing a concern
When the Teaching Council receive a report or complaint about a teacher, they must assess what the issue is and what the appropriate next steps should be.
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Reporting a concern
Concerns about a teacher’s conduct or competence come to the Teaching Council’s attention in different ways. Find out when and how to make a report or complaint.
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Investigating a concern
Investigators will investigate and assess whether a teacher has engaged in misconduct on behalf of the Complaints Assessment Committee.
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Historical abuse allegations against teachers
A Royal Commission of Inquiry into what happened to children, young people and vulnerable adults in state and faith-based care may include allegations against teachers.
Our role
When a matter regarding a registered teacher’s conduct has been referred by the Complaints Assessment Committee, the Disciplinary Tribunal’s role is to hear and determine disciplinary outcomes under Part 5 of the Education and Training Act 2020.
For more information regarding the Tribunal’s role, please click here.
What is the Teaching Council’s role?
One of the Council’s roles is to protect the safety of children and reputation of the profession by ensuring all teachers are fit to practise.
Teachers are expected to uphold the Code of Professional Responsibility | Ngā Tikanga Matatika. If there is a concern or complaint raised about an individual teacher breaching the Code, it is assessed, investigated if needed and action taken where necessary.
By proportion, complaints against teachers are rare. There are more than 105,000 practising teachers in New Zealand and about 80 people on average face a public Disciplinary Tribunal hearing a year.
What happens when a concern about a teacher’s conduct is raised?
For information about each stage of the process please follow the Teaching Council links below. Cases are subject to resolution at any of the stages.
Stage 1:
Stage 2:
Stage 3:
Referral of conduct concerns to Complaints Assessment Committee and investigation
Referral of health issue or other problem to impairment process
Stage 4:
For detailed information please read the Education and Training Act 2020 (Part 5, Subpart 4) and the Teaching Council Rules 2016. For matters notified to the Council prior to August 1 2020, see part 32 of the Education Act 1989.
Teacher’s rights and support
Teachers accused of professional misconduct have a right to procedural fairness, including the right to answer and defend allegations made against them.
Teachers will have several opportunities to provide their own evidence, respond to allegations and may seek representation from their union, lawyer or other.
Council processes are guided by principles of natural justice and teachers have a right under law to appeal decisions of the Disciplinary Tribunal to the District Court.