A teacher has been stripped of his registration after starting an inappropriate relationship with a year 13 student.
Blake Luff, then 25, worked as a PE coach at Lawrence Area School in Otago when he began talking to the girl last year.
The student studied at another school but was a part of the Southern Regional teams for volleyball and basketball, which Luff coached.
After she sent him a friend request on Facebook, the pair began messaging, snapchatting and meeting up.
"Once I got to know you I found out how amazing you are and your strength but also how vulnerable you are," he told the student, NZME reports.
"I think you're an amazing person and want to show you that."
Despite the principal's warning for him to keep his boundaries, Luff continued with the relationship - but tried to make it more discreet.
The New Zealand Teachers' Disciplinary Tribunal found Luff's behaviour, some of which was of intimate nature, carried "the hallmarks of sexual grooming".
"Students should be free from any type of exploitation, harassment or emotional entanglement with teachers."
His registration has been cancelled.
Luff now works in Alexandra as a heat pump installer, NZME reports.
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