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The mother of a boy left emotionally damaged after an encounter with a sex offender says she is angry and hurt that the man has been able to teach in several schools since.
She says she is furious that background checks conducted by at least six schools in recent years failed to reveal convictions for indecent assault in 2004.
"He's just so cunning, so shrewd, conniving," the boy's mother told ONE News.
It is claimed the man was able to get around the system because he operated under at least six aliases.
Board members from three schools confirmed to ONE News that background checks on the 41-year-old revealed nothing.
The Sensible Sentencing Trust says multiple identities are an ongoing problem with sex criminals and using aliases should be banned as part of an offender's release conditions.
"The main thing is that he's allowed to change his name, that's something all offenders can do - change their name by deed poll - and they shouldn't be able to." Peter Jenkins from the group said.
The trust says there also needs to be a central database of convicted offenders for Government departments to access.
Parents stunned
Parents of children he taught say they have been broadsided by the revelations of his past and are struggling with the information that has come home from schools.
Pupils have also told ONE News the man was well respected.
"To me he was The Man, he was the guy I thought I could turn to for answers," a pupil from an Auckland college said.
The Teachers Council and the police validating and vetting unit are expected to come under the spotlight in a ministerial inquiry following the allegations.
Six schools where the man taught have been informed, although their locations cannot be revealed.
The man was arrested by Counties Manukau police on Tuesday last week for breaching his prison release conditions. He is back in custody, having served prison time for a sexual offence.
Helicopter view
Labour says it supports a comprehensive inquiry into the matter and will work constructively to fix systemic issues.
But the party's education spokesperson says the Education Minister must focus on the needs of children affected by the latest incident. Nanaia Mahuta said she is concerned that Hekia Parata did not demand immediate support or counselling services for the children, parents and staff affected.
"It's simply unacceptable that parents were not given the full details of this case as it has the potential to fuel speculation which may not be helpful to the Inquiry or to working out how to create a safe learning environment for the children," said Mahuta.
Mahuta said it appears the Minister took a "helicopter view of the situation" and forgot to make sure that the children remained at the centre of her directives.
Ministry support
But the Ministry of Education says it is actively supporting affected schools with trauma teams.
"Our immediate focus is to work with the schools in order for them to support their students and families," deputy secretary Nicholas Pole said.
Pole said experienced psychologists and practitioners have been working with the schools since Tuesday when the offender was arrested.
He said the schools were not able to inform parents of the
situation until details around the suppression order were
clarified.
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