Daycare worker had 'water' bottle of wine in playground

A ‘horrified’ mother of two has complained to the Ministry of Education after an early childhood worker caring for babies was found to have wine disguised in a drink bottle in the play area, and is still working at the centre.

A former worker at the daycare told Stuff the worker used to drink "coloured liquid" out of a bottle, and say it was apple juice, and that a coffee mug in the staff room smelled of alcohol.

Tauranga mother Renee Hodgins pulled her two children from Kids on Nineteen Daycare on December 23, when she found out about the incident which had taken place six weeks earlier.

"A kid could have drank it. I was horrified and angry that this person had been caring for my daughter and other babies. We expect it to be a place where children are protected. I was gobsmacked she wasn't stood down immediately and is back working there, while parents are in the dark," Hodgins told Stuff.

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The centre's premises is owned by the same Tauranga family which owned Abbey's Place Childcare Centre, which Malachi Subecz attended with extensive injuries before his murder. That centre was closed down by the Ministry of Education last year. Kids on Nineteenth Ltd is a company run by independent directors, Auckland businessman Udit Singh and Wellington-based Rob Deacon.

The Ministry had previously identified, in a review of the centre in 2020, "non-compliance with regulatory standards that are an unacceptable risk to children."

After her complaint Hodgins was told in May that the centre's licence has been downgraded to "provisional". Hodgins then made a second complaint to the Ministry that the woman was still working at the centre.

An internal document dated November 10 sighted by Stuff outlines the incident.

It refers to a meeting on November 9 between centre manager, Marlene Best, and the worker, who was not a registered teacher, but a carer employed by the centre. She is not listed on the centre's website, which lists other staff at the centre. Stuff has chosen not to name the person.

The document details how a bottle found in the playground appeared to be wine.

"I also retrieved your bottle from the cupboard yesterday before I spoke to you and found that it had similar contents," wrote Best.

"You advised that it was indeed alcohol in your water bottle and that you were dealing with personal issues."

"You are aware that this is a serious matter, and one that constitutes serious misconduct under your employment contract. Your actions under the influence of alcohol can compromise the safety of our tamariki and teaching staff."

When approached by Stuff, centre director Singh said that the worker was stood down straight away.

"We took immediate action once the issue came to light and stood down the staff member concerned pending a full investigation. Our investigation took into account Ministry and safety guidelines," he said.

"There was no compromise to the safety standards of children."

The teacher now worked at the centre "as a casual employee", was monitored, and had undergone "rehabilitation", he told Stuff.

The worker involved declined to comment when approached by Stuff.

Parents were not informed about the incident, but after Stuff enquiries this week centre owners sent parents a letter informing them that media coverage was likely. The letter did not mention alcohol.

However, Hodgins alleges that the worker was not stood down straight away, and continued to work there until December when Hodgins said she intended to complain to the Ministry of Education.

"I saw her there with my own eyes in early December changing my daughter's nappy. Worryingly, she was on an outing to the park supervising children under two." said Hodgins.

Another former worker also told Stuff that the person continued to work until late December.

"Knowing she was under the influence, makes you extremely fearful. I was worried she’d drop one of the babies." the former employee told Stuff.

Jocelyn Mikaere, deputy secretary at the Ministry of Education said the Ministry was told about the incident on January 17.

The Ministry visited the premises, and examined records to determine whether the centre complied with regulatory requirements, she said.

"We established the service had not complied with the licensing criteria and the Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008. The service was placed on a provisional licence, and is required to rectify areas of non-compliance within a specified timeframe."

Questioned why parents were not informed, and why the worker still appeared to be at the centre, the Ministry said it was not the employer, but that anyone working with children should be safety checked.

"We determined there was no harm to children during this incident and therefore is an employment issue which is managed by the centre."

Records show the centre's licence was previously downgraded by the Ministry in 2020, for not meeting minimum regulatory requirements.