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Student groomed by teacher wanted her name made public to help hold him accountable

Published

3 years ago

July 5, 2023

It has taken Helena Dray years to realise she is not to blame for the sexual relationship she had with her teacher at an elite Christchurch school.

The 21-year-old says she waived her right to suppression in the high-profile case, made public this week, because she has nothing to hide.

She says Taurapa, formerly Connor Taurapa Matthews, the Rangi Ruru Girls’ School teacher she had a relationship with while a teenager, took advantage of her youth and the mental health issues she was dealing with.

“He was aware of my vulnerability at the time. I believe his actions towards me were shameful and arrogant, and there should be no place for that in Aotearoa,” Dray said in a statement to Stuff on Wednesday.

“I chose to waive name suppression as I have a name, and I am a person. For me personally, to be anonymous means to contribute to the narrative that victims’ actions are in some way shameful or contributory to their abuse.

“This is untrue, and harmful to victims past, present and future. If there is no name on the other end of these cases, it makes it harder to comprehend the impact that these events have and allows perpetrators a level of detachment from the effects of their actions, giving them a continued unjust power over victims.”

On Monday, Stuff revealed Taurapa had been struck off the teaching register after the Teachers Disciplinary Tribunal found he had a sexual relationship with Dray and groomed another teenager.

Private Christchurch girls’ school Rangi Ruru.From 2018 to April 2019, Taurapa was a te reo Māori teacher at Rangi Ruru Girls’ School in CHristchurch. Photo: Google Maps
From 2018 to April 2019 he was a te reo Māori teacher at Rangi Ruru Girls’ School. During that period he was also a live-in house tutor at Christ’s College.

The severe abuse of his position as a teacher took place at both schools.

Taurapa’s relationship with Dray, then a 16-year-old Year 12 Rangi Ruru student, was exposed in March 2019 by two Christ’s College staffers who had become suspicious of his behaviour, and one photographed his car outside the teenager’s home late at night.

Taurapa resigned from his position at Rangi Ruru the following month.

However, the extent of his relationship with Dray was not revealed until she provided an affidavit to a Teaching Council investigator earlier this year.

“It took years for me to come forward due to the stigma and victim blaming that commonly surrounds these cases,” Dray said in her statement to Stuff.

“I have been in therapy for years now due to these events.”

She said part of the reason she delayed coming forward was because she felt Taurapa would “potentially be reprimanded harder for his actions as he is Māori”.

“Although his actions were unacceptable and extremely damaging, they have nothing to do with his race or culture.”

It was “disgraceful” that Taurapa had suggested his actions as an inexperienced teacher were a result of a failure to comprehend the difference between the Māori cultural values regarding his responsibilities to young people and the professional boundaries of teaching, she said.

In July 2022, Taurapa took up a role as a translator with Stuff, and appeared in various news stories. He no longer works for the media organisation.

“It was difficult seeing Taurapa continue his career, especially in the media, although I held little doubt he would be let go from certain positions once this case was made public.”

Dray said she thought of “other victims who don’t get the level of justice I feel I have”.

When Rangi Ruru contacted her on Monday, it was the first time the school had “reached out to me personally regarding these events”.

“I felt a distinct lack of concern for my wellbeing from the school, both during my time as a student … and since. I feel as though they only contacted me due to anticipated media attention, rather than genuine concern for my wellbeing.”

In her affidavit, Dray detailed how her relationship with Taurapa began after he started messaging her privately via SnapChat.

He bought her a present for her 16th birthday, gave her poetry, and sent her messages almost every day, including naked videos and photos of himself, before they eventually performed sex acts on each other in his car one day as he drove her home from a school activity.

A month before Taurapa’s relationship with Dray was exposed in 2019, the parents of a 17-year-old girl who worked part-time for a contractor at Christ’s College complained about messages he had been sending her via SnapChat. While the girl’s boss spoke to Taurapa, the school took no action against him.

Despite the two complaints about his behaviour, Taurapa was able to continue in his house tutor role at Christ’s College until December 2021.

He also secured teaching jobs at two other schools – Hornby High School and Te Whānau Tahi – before joining Stuff.

One of the staffers who blew the whistle on Taurapa’s relationship with Dray told Stuff earlier this week he thought it was completely unacceptable Taurapa was allowed to continue working at Christ’s College – something the school now concedes should not have happened.

“He should have been suspended immediately and removed from the campus while an investigation was undertaken,” board chairperson Hugh Lindo said on Tuesday.

The school has appointed a lawyer to investigate “all aspects of Taurapa’s employment” there.

After concerns about Taurapa’s relationship with Dray were raised in 2019, there was a six-month delay in the matter being flagged with the Teaching Council because Rangi Ruru’s principal mistakenly sent a mandatory report to the wrong email address.

In the interim, Taurapa was employed at Hornby High School on a fixed term, part-time contract for about five months.

“I understand the referee’s checks undertaken at the time did not indicate any concerns or alarm bells,” the school’s newly appointed principal Iain Murray said on Tuesday.

In January 2020, after leaving Hornby High School, Taurapa began teaching at Te Whānau Tahi, a Māori immersion school, and was later elected to its board of trustees. The co-board chairs of the school, one of whom is Taurapa’s brother, have not responded to repeated requests for comment.

On Tuesday, a Teaching Council spokesperson said the case was unique because much of the most serious evidence against Taurapa came to light late in the investigation, by which time he was no longer in a teaching position.

When the matter was first referred to the Teachers Disciplinary Tribunal, the Teaching Council alerted Taurapa’s employer at the time, Te Whānau Tahi, as required, but “there was no reason at that stage that prevented him from continuing to teach”.

Taurapa has twice declined to comment since the tribunal’s decision was made public on Monday.

VIA RNZ

Latest News

Police say person who fired gun at officers still at large

Published

3 days ago

November 12, 2026

News Staff

Police say a person who fired a gun at officers in Napier is still at large.

Eastern District Commander Superintendent Joel Lamb said Police tried to stop a vehicle in the Pirimai Area at about 10pm on Tuesday.

He said someone in the back seat pointed what was presumed to be a firearm at officers pursuing the vehicle.

“Staff have then heard two distinct gunshots as the firearm was discharged.

“Fortunately, neither of our officers were injured, and the patrol vehicle did not sustain any damage.”

He said hours later, the vehicle was seen travelling north on the Waikato Expressway towards Auckland.

Police seized the vehicle at an address in Manurewa, but they had not found the alleged offender.

Lamb said people who lived at the Manurewa address were engaging with Police.

He said Eastern District and Counties Manukau Police were making enquiries.

“Presenting a firearm at a Police officer is a serious escalation that puts our staff and the wider community at risk. This behaviour is entirely unacceptable.

“We are taking this incident extremely seriously and will be pursuing all lines of enquiry to locate the offender and hold them accountable.”

Police asked anyone who witnessed the incident to contact Police on 105 or online using the reference number 261111/3764.

Information could also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

rnz

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New Zealand sides named for RLWC finals

Published

4 days ago

November 11, 2026

News Staff

The players tasked with ending Australia’s Rugby League World Cup dominance have been named.

The Kiwis and Kiwi Ferns have announced their squads for this Sunday’s World Cup finals in Brisbane.

Both sides are chasing their first titles since 2008, and both are looking to end their opponents run of three crowns in a row.

“Our Kiwi Ferns have been so dominant in years gone by, and we want to bring dominance back to this jersey, so I think it will be a case of who wants it more,” said co-captain Georgia Hale of the impending clash.

The Kiwis get a major boost for the final as they welcome back Ronaldo Mulitalo after he served a one-match ban for a high tackle against Fiji Bati.

Mulitalo replaces Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, who moves to the six-man bench, which again includes utility Te Maire Martin, middle forwards Naufahu Whyte, Erin Clark and Xavier Willison plus fullback Keano Kini.

Loose forward Joseph Tapine will make his 30th Test appearance in a familiar pack again, including second-rowers Isaiah Papali’i and Briton Nikora, and props James Fisher-Harris and Moses Leota.

Winger Jamayne Isaako is on the cusp of claiming the New Zealand record for most Test points.

His five goals against Tonga lifted his career points tally to 225 – level with Shaun Johnson – while centre Casey McLean goes into the final with 16 tries in just eight Tests.

Fisher-Harris will again captain the team.

Fullback Ponga said the goal of the group was clear.

“We have high expectations around what we want to achieve, and obviously winning a world Cup is one of them.”

Meanwhile, Ricky Henry has selected a settled side to take on the Jillaroos, led by their lethal centre combination of Stacey Waaka and Mele Hufanga.

Veteran Apii Nicholls takes the number one jersey, Leianne Tufuga and Mackenzie Wiki on the wings.

Henry has stuck with his halves pairing of Chantay Kiria-Ratu and Raecene McGregor with Alexis Tauaneai, Georgia Hale and Otesa Pule up front.

Rounding out the starting pack is Shaniece Monschau, Kaiyah Atai, and Angelina Teakaraanga-Katoa.

“We have been building well throughout the tournament; we understand the Jillaroos side, and will give it our all to make New Zealand proud this weekend,” said Henry.

RLWC Finals:

Kiwi Ferns vs Jillaroos- 6.10pm

Kiwis vs Kangaroos – 9.35pm

Sunday November 15

Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane

Live blog updates on RNZ

Kiwi Ferns:

1. Apii Nicholls 2. Leianne Tufuga 3. Mele Hufanga 4. Stacey Waaka 5. Mackenzie Wiki 6. Chantay Kiria-Ratu 7. Raecene McGregor 8. Alexis Tauaneai 9. Georgia Hale 10. Otesa Pule 11. Shaniece Monschau 12. Kaiyah Atai 13. Angelina Teakaraanga-Katoa.

Interchange: 14. Ashleigh Quinlan 15. Annessa Biddle 16. Shannon Mato 17. Ivana Lauitiiti.

Reserves: 18. Brooke Anderson 19. Zahara Temara 20. Brianna Clark 21. Abigail Roache 22. Tenika Willison.

Kiwis:

1. Kalyn Ponga, 2. Jamayne Isaako, 3. Dane Gagai, 4. Casey McLean, 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo, 6. Kodi Nikorima, 7. Jahrome Hughes, 8. James Fisher-Harris (c), 9. Jeremy Marshall-King, 10. Moses Leota, 11. Isaiah Papali’i, 12. Briton Nikora, 13. Joseph Tapine (v/c).

Interchange: 14. Te Maire Martin, 15. Naufahu Whyte, 16. Erin Clark, 17. Xavier Willison.

Reserves: 18. Keano Kini, 19. Phoenix Crossland, 20. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 21. Scott Sorensen, 22. Leo Thompson.

rnz

Latest News

Parliamentary Service working on extra chairs and offices for increased number of MPs

Published

4 days ago

November 11, 2026

News Staff

The chief executive of the Parliamentary Service is confident there will be enough room to accommodate the increased number of MPs and their staff coming into Parliament.

On current numbers, up to 131 MPs could be sitting in the Chamber following the election, brought on by a record overhang result.

Clerk of the House of Representatives Dr David Wilson told the Spinoff that currently the debating chamber had enough chairs to seat 124 MPs – including the Speaker of the House – and work was being done to accommodate more by altering the seating arrangement.

In a statement, Parliamentary Service chief executive Rafael Gonzalez-Montero said planning for a larger Parliament had been going for “some time”.

“Now that the election results have confirmed an increase to the number of members we are looking at several options.

“We are confident we will be able to accommodate all members within the Chamber.”

Chief Executive of the Parliamentary Service Rafael Gonzalez-Montero appears before select committee. — Parliamentary Service chief executive Rafael Gonzalez-Montero.

VNP / Phil Smith

Gonzalez-Montero said office accommodation for members and their staff would be “stretched” for a short time, but the new Members’ Building was only a few months away from “practical completion”.

That building – located behind Parliament – was due to be ready to occupy in April next year and had capacity to accommodate around 30 backbench MPs.

“All members should be in fit-for-purpose accommodation from that point,” Gonzalez-Montero said.

Following the 2023 election, 123 MPs sat in the Chamber – a record number at the time. That decreased to 122 following the resignation of National MP Judith Collins.

Collins held the seat of Papakura and stepped down in May and Parliament voted against holding a by-election because it was too close to the election.

The election result also meant high-ranking National Party MPs like Chris Bishop, Paul Goldsmith, Nicola Willis and Gerry Brownlee – Speaker of the House and an MP for 30 years – would likely not make it back into Parliament.

Only resigning or retiring MPs were permitted to give a valedictory speech meaning none of them would get the chance to give a valedictory statement.

Asked if their would be special allowances for valedictories, Wilson said in a statement that normally only MPs were allowed to speak in the House but the House could suspend its own rules or temporarily alter them.

“It could do so to allow former members to address the House.”

Wilson said no such arrangements could be made until the next Parliament opened and members sworn in.

rnz