Northland Teacher Permanently Barred From Classroom After Assaulting Students with Stick and Guitar

A Northland, Fresh Zealand teacher, Patrick Tokoroa Heke, has been struck off the teaching register after being found guilty of serious misconduct for physically assaulting students in his Year 3 class in 2021. The New Zealand Teachers Disciplinary Tribunal cancelled Heke’s registration following accounts from six young witnesses detailing repeated instances of physical force.

Pattern of Violence

The incidents, which occurred while Heke was employed at a Whangārei school, involved striking students on the head, arms, and shoulders, often as punishment. One student, aged either seven or eight at the time, recounted an incident where Heke forcibly removed a toy car from his pocket and pushed him to the ground, resulting in a wrist injury. The same student described ongoing instances of being hit with a stick on his arms, shoulders, and head when “playing around,” and struck in the head with a “medium-sized” guitar when not listening.

Another student, an 11-year-old brother of the first, witnessed Heke grab and shove the younger boy. A seven-year-old girl told the tribunal Heke hit her in the head with a stick during reading time, telling her not to “do it” again. She described the stick as long, thin, and brown, reaching his hip, and said he would hit students “daily” with no apparent reason.

Another seven-year-old student reported being hit in the head with a tokotoko (a traditional Māori stick) and a guitar, stating Heke would hit students when they were “being stupid” or “not listening.” Students described the hits as “medium smacks” that left children feeling sore and scared, with one child sustaining a “lump on his head.”

Teacher’s Response and Tribunal Findings

Heke did not participate in the disciplinary process, offering no defense or explanation for his actions. During a phone call with the Complaints Assessment Committee (CAC), he dismissed the allegations as “BS,” claiming the process had damaged his career and stripped him of his mana.

The tribunal found Heke’s conduct to be “of utmost seriousness,” stating, “The sustained use of physical force against young children, particularly striking them on the head with implements, represents conduct of utmost seriousness.” The tribunal concluded that no teacher engaging in such conduct could be considered safe to remain in the classroom.

Heke’s practicing certificate was cancelled, and he was censored. He was also ordered to pay costs of $10,397.67 to the CAC. 1News, Stuff, Archyde, and Memesita reported on the tribunal’s decision on March 6, 2026.