Education Law Conference in Wellington
Hear from the Teaching Council and leading experts on the latest legal issues impacting your school in 2022. Stay updated on critical employment law concerns including mandatory vaccinations, matters arising in workplace investigations, recent disciplinary tribunal decisions and updates on the Education and Training Act. Plus take a deep dive into complaints and resolving Board issues, the avenues parents are taking to resolve disputes and tips on working with your community constable. 222NZW02
Description
Attend and earn 7 CPD/PLD hours
Session 1
The Latest Education and Workplace Updates Impacting Schools
Chair: Denise Johnson, Principal, Hutt Valley High School
8.45am to 8.50am Opening Comments by the Chair
8.50am to 9.50am Current Employment Law Updates and Concerns Affecting Schools
- COVID-19 and mandatory vaccinations
- Employment law changes
- The Holidays Act review
- Interesting and significant lessons from some recent court cases
Presented by Lorraine Hercus, Senior Associate, Buddle Findlay
9.50am to 10.45am Critical Issues Arising in Workplace Investigations
- When to and why investigate?
- Who investigates?
- Procedural requirements
- Employment issues while underway
- Confidentiality and privacy constraints
- Investigation findings - What next?
- Case studies
Presented by Maria Austen, Barrister, Wellington
10.45am to 11.00am Morning Tea
Education Law Updates
11.00am to 12.00pm Update from the Teaching Council
An update from the Teaching Council, including insight into recent New Zealand Teachers Disciplinary Tribunal Decisions.
Presented by Jenny Dawson, Lead Lawyer / Rōia Matua, Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand, Mātatu
12.00pm to 12.55pm Education Law Update
- Education and Training Act 2020 overview
- Resolving “serious disputes” under the new Act
Presented by James Pullar, Partner and Amy Kennerley, Associate, Taylor Shaw Barristers & Solicitors
12.55pm to 1.00pm Final Q+A and Closing Comments by the Chair
Session 2
Resolving School Issues with the Board, Parents and Police
Chair: Craig Johnson, Executive Principal, Hutt International Boys’ School
1.45pm to 1.50pm Opening Comments by the Chair
1.50pm to 2.50pm Tricky Issues for Principals
- Complaints about the principal
- Resolving issues with your Board
- Responding to Privacy Act and OIA requests
- Children's Act and vetting issues
- Covid-19 restructurings
Presented by Jessica Higgins, Associate, Anderson Lloyd
2.50pm to 3.05pm Afternoon Tea
3.05pm to 4.00pm Working with Police
- Rights of young people when being spoken to by the police
- Search and seizure: what can you reasonably ask for (e.g. mobile phones)?
- Social media issues: How do we educate young people to stay safe in a virtual environment?
- Dealing with drugs and trespass
Presented by Janine Bonifant, Barrister, Aurora Chambers
4.00pm to 4.55pm Understanding the Role of the Ombudsman, Work Safe and Privacy Commissioner
Parents are increasingly taking avenues other than the courts, including the Ombudsman, Work Safe and Privacy Commission to resolve disputes. Gain an understanding of the powers of these groups and examine recent cases of interest.
Presented by Leo Donnelly, Special Counsel, Chen Palme, and DeAnne Brabrant, Barrister, Barristers.Comm
4.55pm to 5.00pm Final Q+A and Closing Comments by the Chair
Presenters
Denise Johnson
Denise Johnson is the principal of Hutt Valley High School, a large co-educational secondary school with a roll of 1730 students. Denise started her teaching career in Southland at Menzies College. She then taught for 3 years at various schools in London before returning to New Zealand in 1990. Denise was a Deputy Principal at Wellington Girls’ College and Wellington High School before joining the leadership team at HVHS as an Associate Principal in 2012. She co-led the school with the late Ross Sinclair for 8 years. Denise is a trustee and founding member of the Wellington Loop. She is interested in the transformative power of collaboration between educators and schools in order to build teacher capability and to develop innovative thinking and practice.
Lorraine Hercus
Lorraine specialises in all aspects of employment law. She primarily acts for public and private sector employers, and has experience advising the education sector. She advises on personal grievances, restructuring and redundancy, disciplinary and performance procedures, dismissals, collective issues, contractual interpretation and disputes, holidays and leave issues, privacy and human rights, health and safety, and compliance with employment-related legislation. Lorraine has worked on secondment in employment and Human Resources teams with various large organisations.
Maria Austen
Maria specialises in employment law and independent investigations. Maria has been appointed to undertake a large number of high profile and sensitive investigations into a variety of issues including conflicts of interest, disciplinary matters, sexual harassment and bullying claims. Maria is a graduate of the International Workplace Investigation Organisation AWI, Investigator's Training Institute, and is a certified AWI investigator. Maria is on the Management Committee of AWI’s Australasian Branch http://www.awi.org/ https://www.awi.org/page/AAWI. In 2020, Maria was appointed as an Investigator on the Public Service Commission’s Lead Inquirer Panel.
Jenny Dawson
Jenny Dawson is the Lead Lawyer at the Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand. Jenny provides legal advice across the Council, and leads a team of lawyers who support the Council’s investigation team, along with the Complaints Assessment Committee, the Competence Authority, and the Registration Panel. Jenny also manages the cases which are referred to the Disciplinary Tribunal. Jenny previously worked in private practice, specialising in criminal litigation and family litigation. Jenny was a Lawyer for Children, and has two young children, so has a particular interest in supporting the Council to ensure that there is safe and high quality leadership, teaching and learning for tamariki in schools and ECEs through raising the status of the teaching profession.
James Pullar
James is a Partner at Taylor Shaw and is the head of the Civil Litigation and Employment, and Education Law practice. He acts for a wide variety of clients including local and national businesses, School Boards of Trustees, Independent Schools around New Zealand, and private individuals. James regularly appears in the District Court and the High Court across a broad range of civil work, as well as in the Employment Relations Authority and the Employment Court. James is recognised as a senior litigator and employment lawyer. He advises our clients in respect of issues that arise in a workplace environment. This includes disciplinary investigations, strategic advice on restructuring processes, and personal grievances. In civil litigation, James has developed specialist expertise in insurance law, negligence, contractual disputes, as well as contentious trust and estate matters. James also advises clients in relation to matters that arise in a School environment, including suspensions and exclusions, resolving complaints, staff issues, and property matters. James is an active contributor to New Zealand Law Society programmes, including Employment Law conferences and seminars, and the annual Young Lawyers’ Mooting Competition. He currently sits on both the NZLS (Canterbury-Westland) Employment Law Committee and Special Events Committee and is a previous convenor of the Junior Practitioners’ Committee.
Amy Kennerley
Amy is an Associate in our Dispute Resolution and Litigation Team. Amy specialises in employment matters and acts for both individual employees and companies, including advising on personal grievances, restructures, and employment agreements. Alongside general litigation experience, Amy can also assist in relation to education matters, having previously acted for both schools and individuals in issues arising out of student discipline, parental complaints, and other school disputes.
Amy has appeared in the Employment Relations Authority, the District Court, and the High Court. Amy is currently the Convenor of the local New Zealand Law Society Young Lawyers’ Committee and also sits on the boards of Community Law Canterbury and Kirkwood Intermediate School.
Craig Johnson
Craig Johnson is the Executive Principal of Hutt International Boys School. Craig was a foundation staff member at HIBS and has had various roles throughout the formation and establishment of the school. Initially teaching PE, Social Sciences and Outdoor Education, Craig first Acted as Principal in 1997/’98 and then again in 2001 as a Co-Principal with Harvey Rees-Thomas. Craig met his wife, Denise, at OU and they commenced their teaching careers in Southland before travelling overseas for three years. They share an interest in playing sport, both playing for their Province in their respective sports. This transferred into Coaching and Craig was involved in coaching across many codes at HIBS, resulting in a Volunteer of the Year award at the CSW Sports Awards. Craig and Denise have two adult children, and have spent much of the last 15 years watching them play cricket, from junior grades through to representing Wellington in the Firebirds. Their love of travel, especially in Asia, will recommence as soon as they are able.
Jessica Higgins
Jessica is an Associate in the Employment Team at Anderson Lloyd and is based out of the Dunedin office. Jessica specialises in advising on employment matters including employment agreements and policies, disciplinary matters, redundancies, and personal grievances. Jessica has a special interest in education in the employment law setting. Along with her colleague Fi McMillan, Jessica advises principals under the New Zealand Principals' Federation Legal Advice and Support Scheme. She also acts for a number of schools. Jessica is a member the Otago Women Lawyers’ Society and the Dunedin and Auckland branches of the Law Society Employment Law Committees. She is a Board Member of Knox and Salmond College and Pregnancy Help Incorporated. Outside of work, Jessica is passionate about yoga and is a qualified yoga instructor.
Janine Bonifant
Janine Bonifant has had over 25 years’ experience as a litigator with a focus on criminal law. She has prosecuted and defended many trials in the District and High Courts. Janine currently practices as barrister in Wellington. Janine is a Youth Advocate in Porirua and Wellington. In addition to criminal defence work, Janine has been a faculty member on the NZLS Litigation Skills Programme since 2006 and was Director in 2013 and 2017. She is currently an instructor for the Institute of Professional Legal Studies. Janine is also an author for Lexis Nexis.
Venue
InterContinental Wellington
Level 1, 2 Grey Street
Wellington 6011
New Zealand
Parking information
Limited valet parking available at $20 per day. Additional parking available at Wilson Parking with $5 per half hour and $22 for early-bird.
Parking is not included in the registration fee and price is subject to change.
Directions
The Intercontinental is a 2 min walk from Lambton Quay which has a number of buses going to airport and suburbs. It's a 10 min walk to the nearest train station.
Taxis are also available downstairs at the hotel entry.