A 24-year-old kitchen worker at Wesley College in New Zealand has been charged with a sexual offense involving a student, unrelated to the school’s hostel closure.

A 24-year-old kitchen worker at Wesley College in New Zealand has been charged with sexual connection involving a student, following an August allegation. The school, which immediately notified authorities and the student’s family, confirmed the incident is unrelated to the Ministry of Education’s decision to suspend the school’s hostel license. The closure, prompted by an ERO report citing a July 2025 incident where over 30 senior students entered a junior dormitory and participated in or witnessed bullying and assault, was based on ongoing safety concerns, including a culture of silence and inadequate supervision. The school’s trust board has appealed the suspension in court, arguing the timing disrupts students and that recent improvements in safeguarding, supervision, and reporting systems were not acknowledged. The employee appeared in court and was remanded on bail.