Hawke’s Bay teacher jailed for sexual conduct with five students

Thursday 18 December 2025 · 3 outlets · 3 reports · updated Thu 18 Dec 2025, 8:56pm

Matthew Ireland, 27, has been sentenced in the Napier District Court after pleading guilty to 12 charges of sexual conduct with children. The offences occurred while he worked at Port Ahuriri primary school and Havelock North Intermediate. Ireland will now serve a prison sentence and become a registered child sex offender.

How they headlined it

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1. StuffThu 18 Dec 2025, 3:40pm

   Teacher jailed for sexual conduct with five pupils at two schools (opens in new tab)

2. NZ HeraldThu 18 Dec 2025, 5:00pm

   Hawke’s Bay teacher Matthew Ireland convicted of 12 sex offences against students (opens in new tab)

3. Otago Daily TimesThu 18 Dec 2025, 8:56pm

   Once-trusted teacher jailed for sexually abusing students (opens in new tab)