Tribunal censures former teacher convicted for rioting at Covid protest

The Teachers Disciplinary Tribunal has censured a former teacher who threw concrete pavers at police during the break-up of the 2022 occupation of Parliament grounds.

The tribunal's decision said it received a complaint about Billy-James Charles Natanahira soon after his offending, but waited for the outcome of his trial in 2024 before it considered the case.

It said Natanahira was convicted of rioting and assault with a weapon and sentenced to five months community detention.

The decision said Natanahira had taken responsibility for his actions and the tribunal was impressed by his redeeming features.

However, the offending was serious and the tribunal had previously found Natanahira guilty of serious misconduct in 2018 for swearing at and threatening a student.

It said because Natanahira cancelled his teacher registration in mid-2023 there was little else the tribunal could do other than censure him and require him to present its decision to any future employer should he return to teaching in the next four years.

The decision said Natanahira was not working as a teacher at the time of his offending because of the mandate that required school staff to be vaccinated against Covid-19.

It said Natanahira travelled to Wellington from the East Coast and visited the occupation of Parliament grounds by anti-vaccination protesters on the same day that police broke up the protest.

The decision said Natanahira was seen throwing bricks and pavers at police but it was not possible to tell if he injured any.

He also uploaded videos to Facebook including one in which he said he threw bricks at police.

The decision said Natanahira had told the tribunal's complaints assessment committee he accepted his actions and expressed remorse.

He said he had apologised to his hapū and community, his school and students, and had proactively engaged with police.