Teacher stripped of registration after sexual relationship with student

Author: Brianna McIlraith,
Publish Date: Thu, 30 Jul 2026, 2:13pm

Matekino Matthews has had her registration cancelled after having a sexual relationship with her student. Photo / 123rf

A teacher who had a sexual relationship with her student, leaving the teen feeling as though he was living a “double life”, can now be named.

Matekino Matthews was found guilty of serious misconduct by the Teacher’s Disciplinary Tribunal after she engaged sexually with the then-student on several occasions while he was in his final year of school.

In a recently released penalty decision, tribunal chair Tim Mackenzie noted there had been “adverse effects” on the student and cancelled Matthews’ registration.

Matthews previously had interim name suppression, but did not engage in the proceedings or seek any permanent non-publication orders. As a result, the tribunal declined to grant permanent name suppression.

However, the student, now an adult, was granted permanent name suppression.

At a hearing in March, which Matthews did not attend, the former student told the tribunal he felt he was “living a double life” when he was attending school and having a sexual relationship with Matthews.

The student told the tribunal his relationship with Matthews began in his final year at school when she kissed him on the lips in front of other students.

But a kiss on a teacher-only day, when he was 17, changed everything.

“This kiss was different,” he said.

After that, the relationship became sexual. The student said he engaged in oral sex with Matthews, including in her parked car at a beach. She also took him to motels on at least two occasions.

Sometimes, he said, she touched him sexually during class when no one else was looking.

He said Matthews told him not to tell anyone, as she did not want anything to happen to her.

When he ended the relationship and tried to cut contact, she told him she was suicidal, he said.

“I felt she was guilt-tripping me.”

Matthews also allowed him to drive her car and a van full of students when he did not have the correct licence, he said.

Most of their contact occurred outside school hours.

The former student, supported by his whaea, made a complaint to the school and provided screenshots of text messages between the pair.

The tribunal also heard that Matthews gave cigarettes to students, asked them to buy her food, yelled at students, allowed students with learner licences to drive the school van, and on occasion changed attendance records so students could miss class.

As well as cancelling Matthews’ registration, the tribunal is seeking costs of $16,000 and a further $1000.

“Given Ms Matthews’ lack of engagement, we are unsure of her financial position,” Mackenzie said.

“We would like to give Ms Matthews an opportunity to engage on that aspect if she wishes to, before finalising any costs decision.”

If Matthews does not engage, the costs orders will become final without further notice or decision.

Brianna McIlraith is a Queenstown-based reporter for Open Justice covering courts in the lower South Island. She has been a journalist since 2018 and has had a strong interest in business and financial journalism.