Howick College’s presiding member is clarifying comments made on social media about the school’s new principal having been “exonerated” by an investigation into issues around bullying at the school he previously led.
Last year the news media reported Dale Burden, then the principal at St Peter’s Cambridge in Waikato, was on leave for unspecified reasons along with his wife, the school’s deputy principal.
It emerged complaints had been made about work place bullying and poor staff well-being.
That resulted in WorkSafe being engaged to carry out work at the school, which was also said to have carried out its own investigation.
Burden and his wife eventually resigned from their jobs at St Peter’s Cambridge.
Earlier this month, Howick College announced it had appointed Burden as its new principal, replacing Iva Ropati who is to take up a role in the Bay of Plenty.
Howick College’s presiding member, Miles Stratford, said in the announcement it was important the new principal aligned with the school’s values and was “committed to carrying forward Iva’s work to ensure Howick College is the secondary school of choice in east Auckland”.
“Although we were aware of the negative media attention Dale has received in the past, our decision to appoint him was based on the character, mana, and reality of the person that was revealed during the recruitment and interview process,” Stratford said.
Following the announcement people expressed their shock and disappointment on Howick College’s public Facebook page.
There were also several positive comments about Burden.
One person wrote it was “very disappointing”, a “massive step backwards”, and “definitely not the role model we want for our young people”.
The commenter also referenced WorkSafe’s involvement at St Peter’s Cambridge in 2021.
In response, Stratford wrote: “The board was provided with advice that the investigation had been concluded and Mr Burden exonerated.”
The Times asked WorkSafe if it agrees Burden was “exonerated”.
Api Poutasi, the organisation’s manager health and technical services, says its role is to look at systems and processes in relation to mentally healthy work and not individuals.
“As a result, WorkSafe would not ‘exonerate’ any individual.
“It is up to the employer to determine suitability for appointment.”
Poutasi says as a result of the work carried out by WorkSafe, the St Peter’s Cambridge board implemented improvements including new policies and procedures relating to staff well-being.
“These improvements have satisfied WorkSafe that staff wellbeing will be looked after and no further action or involvement is needed from WorkSafe.”
Stratford says he will ensure the message on the school’s Facebook page is updated to reflect several points, the first of which being the “WorkSafe investigation was in respect of the ability of St Peter’s to undertake an investigation into allegations of staff bullying”.
“The advice regarding Mr Burden not engaging in bullying behaviour came from people who were party to the investigation carried out by a retired High Court judge on the part of the St Peter’s board,” he says.
“The board believes the concerns raised by media coverage of these events are answered by the advice we have received.
“The board believes staff, students and community that make up Howick College can have confidence the college will go from strength to strength under Mr Burden’s leadership.”
Burden is set to start in his new role from term one next year.
