News: Sexual Harassment at Vic

A chemistry tutor at Victoria University of Wellington who stalked and groped female students was allowed to continue to teach  – and was even allowed to supervise classes of high school students – despite the fact that a formal complaint against him was upheld.

The complaint, made in February this year, alleged that the tutor “rubbed his hands up and down [the student’s] legs”, “made jokes about stripping [the students] off to treat chemical burns”, gave the students unwanted massages, and, on multiple occassions, followed the students to their home after tutorials. 

The University offered to mediate Restorative Justice sessions between the students and the tutor. The students declined that offer, and no further action was taken. The tutor was allowed to continue to teach, including during a three-day outreach course with local secondary schools.