Police are investigating allegations of historical sexual abuse at several West Auckland schools.

A man has been charged in connection with the alleged offending. He has interim suppression is due to go to trial next year at Auckland District Court.

“We’re appealing for information from the public to assist with historical allegations of abuse at several West Auckland schools in the 1980s to early 1990s,” the North Shore, Rodney & West Auckland Police Facebook page says.

The statement said police had charged a man. Police confirmed the man is due to go to trial in August next year but refused to clarify what charges he is facing, whether he worked as a teacher or which schools are involved.

However, the Herald has confirmed the man made his first court appearance in December last year.

He faces seven charges involving two alleged victims. The charges include sexual violation, which carries a maximum prison sentence of 20 years, and doing indecent acts, which carries a maximum sentence of seven years. The man is also charged with threatening to kill one of the victims, which carries a maximum sentence of seven years’ imprisonment.

“For legal reasons we cannot disclose further details about the individual, or the schools, but we believe that people in the community may have useful knowledge from that time,” the police statement says.

“If there are people in the community who have matters they would like to discuss with police, we ask that they contact us.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact police online at 105.police.govt.nz using “Update Report” - reference file number 240602/5875. Alternatively they can call 105 or visit their local police station.

The Herald has approached the Ministry of Education for comment.

Lane Nichols is Auckland desk editor for the New Zealand Herald with more than 20 years’ experience in the industry.