At least five schools impacted by tutor under investigation

Police say students at at least five schools interacted with a tutor they are investigating after alleged inappropriate behaviour.

Police and Oranga Tamariki announced on Friday they were jointly investigating a tutor who previously taught at several schools and community organisations in the Waikato and Bay of Plenty regions.

Waikato Police Detective Inspector Kevin McNaughton told RNZ they were in the early stages of determining whether criminal activity had occurred after receiving a report from a single school about the tutor in the past couple of weeks.

"This person provides tutoring services via a professional provider who has full records of any schools or children with whom this person comes into contact through their work."

He said a number of students at five to six schools engaged with the tutor.

"We've quickly gone out to identify parents who may have children who had contact with this person, to contact them and invite them to meetings so we can talk them through the screening process, how the investigation runs, and to provide support to them."

He said the tutoring provider had been fully cooperative in handing over their records.

McNaughton said no charges had been laid, but Police would prosecute if they found evidence of criminal activity.

"Whilst investigations of this type take some time, it's not a matter where we would wait until the end of the investigation to take action. Should any single criminal offence be identified to an evidential standard, then action would be taken with respect to that offence immediately."

He said the tutor was no longer working with the schools when Police began their investigation.

He urged the community to let Police complete their investigation and avoid speculation online.

"I'm aware there's some social media commentary with respect to this matter, and that comes as a result of our contact with parents. Some of that social media content is inaccurate and unhelpful.

"Should parents need further information, then they should be contacting police via 105 online."