St Cuthbert’s College: Alleged inappropriate conversations and concerns about a ‘sex toy’ at school - staff member dismissed
A junior staff member whose contract was terminated at St Cuthbert’s College is being investigated over concerns involving a sex toy at the school, the Herald understands.
When asked by the Herald if the staff member had given a sex toy to a boarder, St Cuthbert’s said: “As part of the investigation now underway, the college has become aware that the former junior [staffer] allegedly had an inappropriate sexual item”.
Teachers were told on Tuesday, May 26 a former staff member was under investigation after allegations of inappropriate conduct, and that the school was investigating.
Leigh Melville, board chairwoman at the prestigious private school, said at the time the allegations related to concerns about “conversations and interactions with students that may have crossed the boundaries expected between students and staff.”
She has since told the Herald that the former junior assistant provided support to boarding staff, and was contracted through an external agency.
The staff member had passed reference checks and police checks, and attended an induction that covered safeguarding, professional boundaries, expectations, social media use and duty of care, Melville said.
She said the assistant began at St Cuthbert’s in June 2025.
“Out of respect for our students and families, it would not be appropriate for the college to speculate on individual circumstances while the investigation is underway,” Melville said.
“The investigation is focused on whether the conduct ... met the high professional standards and boundaries we expect of any person working at the college.
She said concerns were first raised with a member of the school’s senior leadership team on May 12.
“The matter was immediately escalated to the principal and board, and immediate action was taken. The assistant no longer works for the college.”
The assistant worked 40 hours a week and did not have a supervisory role, according to Melville. Her main role was to support the boarding staff with a range of duties, including assisting before and after school and during mealtimes.
The school would not answer questions relating to how many boarders were included in the allegedly inappropriate conversations, when they allegedly occurred - and the nature of the relationships between the former staff member and the student or students.
The college’s senior boarding house, Melrose House, has 34 boarders and is primarily for Year 13 students in their final year of school, with some Year 12 students.
It is one of three boarding houses at St Cuthbert’s, which together accommodate approximately 100 students from Years 7 to 13.
The college told the Herald the investigation is being overseen by the college board and conducted by “appropriately qualified people with relevant experience in student wellbeing and safeguarding”.
The college declined to reveal its terms of reference and give a timeframe for completion of its investigation.
“To protect the privacy and wellbeing of our students and to preserve the integrity of the investigation process, the terms will not be released publicly,” Melville said.
St Cuthbert’s College consistently ranks among the top schools in New Zealand for academic results.
Families pay $31,544 annually for senior students to attend the school and an extra $21,608 for boarders.
The Ministry of Education oversees licensing of school hostels and can step in if standards around student safety and wellbeing aren’t met.
“While St Cuthbert’s is a private school, all school hostels must meet minimum standards,” Jason Swann, the ministry’s director of education for Auckland Central and East, told the Herald.
“The ministry is aware of the matter. The school is running an active investigation and will keep us updated, as appropriate. We have offered support and guidance.”
Carolyne Meng-Yee is an Auckland-based award-winning investigative journalist. She worked for the Herald on Sunday from 2007 to 2011 and rejoined the Herald in 2016 after working as an award-winning current affairs producer at TVNZ’s 60 Minutes, 20/20 and Sunday.