Ex-deputy principal pleads guilty to indecent assault

The Commissioner appointed to Pamapuria School - where a former teacher has admitted sexually abusing students - will be carrying out an in-depth investigation.

Commissioner Larry Forbes says his investigation will start as soon as possible.

"Really, to try and answer questions about how these events occurred, and why they seem to have continued for so long."

Former Pamapuria School deputy principal James Parker has pleaded guilty to 49 charges of indecent assault.

Mr Parker was crying when he read a statement in the Kaitaia District Court, saying how deeply remorseful he is for the suffering he caused.

He says the crimes were committed against people he cared about, and he wished he could fix the damage.

The 36-year-old says he is an unwilling host of a terrible disorder.

Kaitaia grandmother Iris Simeon says the community had no idea that he was abusing young students while working at Pamapuria School.

"The boys that took this and exposed it for what it was, those boys need to be supported right through this, and those boys need to be thanked for stopping it."

Ms Simeon says Parker had always been welcomed into their homes - and kids wanted to get into his class.

"One call from him to take the kids to sport, whatever, we jumped. Every morning we heard his horn, morning and night, toot-toot, toot-toot - 'Oh there goes Jamie'."

Ms Simeon says she feels sorry for Parker too - and would give him a cup of tea if he came to her home today.

James Parker's lawyer, Alex Witten-Hannah, says their failed bid for continual name suppression was motivated by a letter he read from a mother of two of the victims.

"She is quite grief-stricken at what the boys are suffering through bullying, and as a consequence of the release of his name, she feels that not only will her boys suffer, but that other boys will also suffer."

Mr Witten-Hannah says his client is concerned that the boys don't suffer any more than they already have.

James Parker will be sentenced in November.

Offences date back to 2006 and involve boys under the age of 12.