Around 12.15pm, a child was upset and the teacher invited the child to sit on her knee for a cuddle. Two teachers had approached the centre’s co-owner at separate times that day with concerns about the teacher. The tribunal was notified of the teacher having a 2019 conviction for driving with excess breath alcohol. The tribunal decision said the teacher accepted responsibility for her actions and that she was very stressed at the time. Tribunal deputy chair Catherine Garvey said in the decision that there was no dispute the teacher had alcohol in a drink bottle while at work.

Source: New Zealand Herald April 11, 2026 10:34 UTC