The man at
the centre of bullying allegations against David Benson-Pope has
branded the former cabinet minister a liar for refuting the
claims.
Several former students have come forward and alleged they were
mistreated by the Labour MP when he was a teacher at Bayfield High
in Dunedin.
Benson-Pope stood down from cabinet on Monday night ahead of an inquiry which will investigate the claims. If the inquiry supports the allegations, the associate education minister will almost certainly have to resign as a minister and from parliament.
The allegations were raised in parliament last week by Act leader Rodney Hide and National MP Judith Collins, just days after the minister launched an anti-bullying campaign.
Benson-Pope is denying he stuffed a tennis ball in a student's mouth and hit another on the head with his hand. In parliament, Benson-Pope said the allegations were "ridiculous and I refute them".
The denials prompted an angry response from one of his accusers, Phil Weaver. "I think that's bizarre, he's definitely lying and I give the man credit where it's due, he must be able to recall these events as clearly as I can...it was a few years ago, but still he should be able to remember," Weaver said.
So far, five former students have alleged Benson-Pope bullied them.
But one former pupil, now a teacher himself, paints Benson-Pope as popular and fun. "I hope the truth comes out. If he did use inappropriate discipline techniques then that should be dealt with. But I just hope that people remember how vigorous teachers were expected to be in the 1970s in terms of their dealings with students," Roger Tobin, a teacher at Logan Park High School, said.
Prime Minister Helen Clark is waiting for advice from Solicitor-General Terence Arnold QC as to what sort inquiry will be held. She indicated it could involve the police. Benson-Pope is the Minister of the Education Review Office, Minister of Fisheries and Associate Minister of the Environment.
Other casualties of Clark's cabinet.
Dover Samuels
June 2000:
Sacked as a minister after allegations of
sexual impropriety of which he was cleared. Reappointed minister
outside of cabinet in August 2002.
Ruth Dyson
November 2000:
Resigned from cabinet after she was
breathed tested in her driveway after a late night working at the
Beehive. Her breath test showed she was almost twice the legal
limit. She resigned from her portfolios but was reappointed in June
2001 after serving her disqualification and paying her fines.
Marian Hobbs
February 2001: Resigned when an inquiry into her
housing allowance claims started. She was cleared and reappointed a
month later.
Phillida Bunkle
February 2001: Resigned after becoming embroiled
in a housing and allowances scandal similar to Hobbs. Cleared but
never reappointed.
Lianne Dalziel
February 2004:
Resigned after admitting to releasing
confidential documents into the expulsion of a Sri Lankan teen who
claimed she was raped and abused by male relatives. Dalziel lost
her portfolio over the controversial case when she lied about a
letter leaked to TV3 that set out a strategy for keeping the
teenager in New Zealand. Not reappointed.
Tariana Turia
April 2004: Resigned over the government's
foreshore and seabed policy. Now co-leader of the Maori Party with
Pita Sharples.
John Tamihere
November 2004: Resigned from cabinet while the
Serious Fraud Office investigated allegations he didn't pay tax on
a $195,000 payout from the Waipareira Trust. He was cleared. Then
in April Tamihere was censured and later apologised for the
"grossly offensive" comments he made about his cabinet colleagues
in a magazine article.
