Gloriavale teacher Malachi Faithful censured for striking student with vacuum pipe

What happened

Malachi Faithful, a Gloriavale teacher, has been censured for serious misconduct by the New Zealand Teachers Disciplinary Tribunal after striking a 14-year-old student on the leg with a vacuum cleaner pipe in 2013. The incident occurred after the student made an obnoxious remark and was not reported until nine years later, after the student had left the West Coast Christian community. This led to a police charge of assault with a weapon in December 2022, to which Faithful pleaded guilty and received a discharge without conviction with $1250 in emotional harm reparation ordered. The tribunal found the strike constituted physical abuse and serious misconduct but stopped short of deregistration, citing Faithful's apology, clean prior record, and low ongoing risk. Instead, it formally censured him, required him to complete a one-year mentoring programme on self-regulation and classroom behaviour management, and mandated he inform prospective employers of the decision for two years. Faithful was also ordered to pay $3246 in legal costs and $427.30 in tribunal costs.

Why it matters

Faithful's censuring follows the Education Ministry's cancellation of Gloriavale Christian School's registration on 3 September 2026, with the school facing closure. The Charities Registration Board had also deregistered Gloriavale's trust on 22 September 2026 citing serious wrongdoing including child labour and governance failures. This disciplinary tribunal decision adds to the mounting regulatory action against the West Coast community's institutions.

Follow the whole thread: Gloriavale school registration closure

Key facts

• Incident occurred in 2013; reported and charged in December 2022
• Faithful was 27 years old and one year into teaching when the incident occurred
• Student received no lasting injuries
• Tribunal censured but did not deregister Faithful
• One-year mentoring programme required, with two-year employer disclosure requirement

Primary source: New Zealand Teachers Disciplinary Tribunal decision

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