A child protection group is expressing concern over new figures that show a spike in the number of registered teachers being reported for aggressive and sexual behaviour.
Statistics obtained by Newshub show there were four times more referrals from the Education Council to the Disciplinary Tribunal relating to aggressive behaviour in 2015, compared with the previous year.
The Education Council says aggressive behaviour doesn't have to be physical and can include verbal comments made to a student.
Meanwhile, the number of referrals to the tribunal for sexual behaviour or contact almost tripled over the same period.
Child Matters chief executive Anthea Simcock says the numbers are concerning.
"This won't be all of them and there will be more, particularly those sexual offenders. We do need to be concerned because these people are manipulative and coercive, and they know how to choose vulnerable children.
"I would really like every school to have a child protection champion, somebody that if anyone has a concern, people can go to that person because they will know what to do, and they will really be a supportive person," says Ms Simcock.
The Education Council says the spike in numbers is largely due to the fact employers are more aware of their responsibility to report suspicious behaviour.
"What's happening is that we are informing employers of the requirements to report, and there's a lot more awareness around that these days. It's not because teachers are less professional, it's more because of the awareness to report to the Education Council," says Andrew Greig, the council's teacher practice manager.
While the number of incidents relating to aggressive or sexual behaviour has risen, overall the Education Council received 41 fewer reports in 2015. But Mr Greig says that longer-term trends show the numbers are rising, as more people become aware of their responsibilities to report.
The release of these latest figures comes after a string of high-profile incidents concerning adults working in schools.
Last month a male teacher was struck off the teaching register and his female partner -- also a teacher -- was disciplined over the couple's inappropriate involvement with a 13-year-old girl.
In November, Wellington teacher Stacey Reriti was found guilty on seven sexual assault charges, relating to one of her former students.
The court heard how the relationship started with kissing and evolved into sexual intercourse in a hotel room when the child was as young as 12.
The Education Council says despite the rising numbers, those involved in disciplinary proceedings are only a small portion of the 103,000 practising teachers in New Zealand.
Newshub.
