A former Hastings teacher at Karamū High School, John Mallory, was censured by the Teachers Disciplinary Tribunal for accessing pornographic content on his school-issued work computer. The incident was brought to light when an IT worker saw a pornographic video on Mallory’s screen while helping him set up two-factor authentication. Upon further investigation, it was revealed that Mallory had been visiting numerous pornographic websites and searching for explicit material, including content related to “teacher/student relationships” and non-consensual sex.
Although Mallory claimed that he only intended to access material involving participants over 18 years old, the tribunal found his behavior to be “serious misconduct” and ordered him to notify any future employer of the Tribunal’s decision. Mallory has since stopped teaching and did not reapply for his practicing certificate. Despite the fact that the content viewed was not illegal in New Zealand, the tribunal emphasized that using school property to access pornography brings the teaching profession into disrepute.
In addition to being censured, Mallory was also ordered to pay $3777 in legal costs. This case serves as a reminder that inappropriate use of school-issued technology can have severe consequences and tarnish the reputation of educators in the community.
