Teachers with Convictions
All convictions that carry a possible sentence of three months' imprisonment or more, regardless of the actual sentence imposed, must be reported to the New Zealand Teachers Council and investigated by the Complaints Assessment Committee.
Self reporting convictions to the New Zealand Teachers Council
Under section 139AP of the Education Act 1989, a teacher is required to inform the New Zealand Teachers Council within seven days when they receive a conviction.
When self reporting, you are required to provide the following:
- the Summary of Facts, Certificate of Conviction, and sentencing notes (if imprisonment is imposed) from the court. Please approach the court where you were convicted to obtain these documents;
- a detailed explanation of the event, signed by you; and
- any other information that may be useful to the Complaints Assessment Committee to consider in its investigation. This could include signed character references and/or medical certificates (if applicable).
Template letter for teacher self reporting convictions
Court Registrars
The Registrar of every court must report to the New Zealand Teachers Council when a person whom the registrar believes to be a teacher, is convicted of an offence punishable by imprisonment of three months or more. The Registrar must not report to the New Zealand Teachers Council if the court has expressly ordered otherwise in a particular case.