Restrictions OK
Jurisdiction Employment Relations Authority - Auckland
Reference No AA 421/08
Hearing date 5 Dec 2008
Determination date 12 December 2008
Member L Robinson
Representation J Watson ; P Robertson
Location Auckland
Parties Masina v Tukaki Waititi on behalf of and as the Commissioner of Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Kokiri o Te Rahuitanga o Otara
Summary INTERIM INJUNCTION – Application for interim reinstatement – Application for interim injunction restraining appointment of permanent principal – Applicant dismissed following New Zealand Teachers Council’s (“NZTC”) refusal to grant applicant limited authority to teach (“LAT”) – Applicant had no approved teacher education qualification – Previously received consecutive LATs – NZTC denied application for further LAT - No authority to teach – Applicant did not appeal NZTC’s decision at first instance – Respondent concluded employment could not continue where no authority to teach – No evidence applicant would obtain new LAT – Authority found arguable case – Found arguable whether applicant could remain employed but not authorised to teach – To be determined whether contract frustrated – Found arguable whether respondent’s correspondence with NZTC constituted unjustified disadvantage - Respondent had duty to act in good faith - No direct input sought from applicant – No consideration of alternatives to dismissal – Found arguable whether respondent failed to comply with terms of mediated settlement by not supporting applicant’s LAT application – Found balance of convenience favoured respondent – Applicant claimed balance of convenience in their favour due to real possibility position would be lost if injunction denied – Respondent claimed impractical interim reinstatement – Authority acknowledged respondent’s concern regarding the legality of employing applicant without LAT – Applicant unreasonably delayed seeking interim injunction – Intervening period between interim hearing and substantive proceedings short – No good reason given for not appealing NZCT’s decision – Authority found overall justice favoured respondent – Other solutions inappropriate – Interim reinstatement declined – Interim injunction restraining appointment of permanent principal declined – Principal
Result Application declined ; Costs reserved
Main Category Injunction
Statutes ERA s127;ERA s103A
Number of Pages 9
PDF File Link: aa 421_08.pdf [pdf 33 KB]