Teacher Struck Off for Inappropriate Physical Contact with Young Children

Key facts

• Ankui (Ian) Gui had his teacher registration cancelled.
• Gui kissed a three-year-old student on the lips on at least two occasions.
• The incidents occurred between April and May 2021 at two Auckland early childhood centres.
• A tribunal found Gui's behaviour amounted to serious misconduct.
• The tribunal stated there was no sexual or indecent motivation.
• Gui was employed by Jitbug ECE Recruitment Agency.
• An interim name suppression order has now lapsed.

Registration Cancelled After Pattern of Misconduct

Ankui (Ian) Gui, an early childhood relief teacher, has been struck off the register and had his registration cancelled following a finding of serious misconduct. The decision by the Teachers' Disciplinary Tribunal stems from a pattern of inappropriate physical contact with multiple young children during his employment in 2021. While the tribunal explicitly stated there was no sexual or indecent motivation behind his actions, the repeated nature and intimate physicality of the contact led to the severe penalty. The tribunal's findings, detailed in a recently released decision, highlight a concerning lack of understanding of professional boundaries. Gui's conduct, described as overly intimate, transgressed the expected professional conduct for a relief teacher, particularly one who had not established long-term relationships with the children. The consequences for Gui include the cancellation of his registration and a formal censure, effectively barring him from teaching. The ruling underscores the importance of safeguarding children's well-being and maintaining professional standards within the early childhood education sector.

Details of Inappropriate Physical Contact Emerge

Gui, who worked as a relief teacher for Jitbug ECE Recruitment Agency at Auckland's New Shoots Hobsonville and Pascals Herne Bay centres in 2021, engaged in repeated inappropriate physical contact with several students. The tribunal's decision details that he kissed a three-year-old child on the lips on at least two occasions. He also kissed the hand of another four-year-old child. Further accounts from former colleagues and parents paint a more detailed picture of witnessing Gui kiss a three-year-old boy on the lips on two separate occasions. Evidence from the father of a four-year-old girl indicated that his daughter felt uncomfortable enough to report the incident, prompting him to raise concerns with the centre. Another teacher observed Gui nuzzling his head into the chest of a three-year-old girl while she was on a playground structure. These actions, occurring between April and May 2021, were not isolated incidents. The tribunal noted that Gui's conduct was repeated and directed at multiple children across two different early childhood centres, indicating a persistent pattern of behaviour.

Children's Well-being and Professional Boundaries

The tribunal's findings emphasised that Gui's conduct adversely affected the well-being of the learners. The children were placed in situations where their bodily autonomy and boundaries were not respected, leading to discomfort and potential harm. At least one child's distress was significant enough to be reported to her parents, who subsequently alerted the centre staff. Concerns were also raised by other teachers and parents, with some staff feeling compelled to intervene or report the incidents. This collective unease highlighted a broader awareness among the centre staff and parents that Gui's behaviour was crossing professional lines. The tribunal concluded that Gui demonstrated a fundamental lack of understanding of appropriate professional boundaries. His inability or unwillingness to change his behaviour, even after being warned, was a critical factor in the decision to cancel his registration.

Warnings Ignored, Pattern Persists

Despite receiving warnings about his inappropriate conduct while working at New Shoots Hobsonville, Ankui Gui continued to engage in similar behaviour at Pascals Herne Bay. This persistence, even after being made aware of the unacceptability of his actions, underscored the tribunal's concern about his pattern of behaviour. Gui's conduct was not deemed isolated or accidental. The tribunal chair, Jamie O’Sullivan, stated that it demonstrated a concerning pattern of inappropriate physical contact with multiple children across both centres. This repeated nature of the misconduct was a significant factor in the severity of the tribunal's decision. The tribunal found that Gui's actions would likely bring the teaching profession into disrepute. The cancellation of his registration and censure serve as a strong message regarding the expectations of conduct for educators working with young children.

Name Suppression Lapses on Final Decision

An interim name suppression order, which had been in place for both Gui and the centres he worked at during a previous hearing in 2024, has now lapsed. This means Ankui Gui can now be publicly named in relation to the disciplinary action. The decision to cancel his registration and issue a censure was made by the Teachers' Disciplinary Tribunal, which reviewed the evidence of Gui's conduct. The tribunal's final ruling details the repeated nature of the inappropriate physical contact and its impact on the children involved. Gui's employment as a relief teacher meant he was not a permanent fixture at either centre, but his actions during his tenure were sufficient to trigger a thorough investigation and disciplinary process. The lapse of name suppression allows for transparency regarding the outcome of the case.

The bottom line

• Ankui Gui's teacher registration has been permanently cancelled due to serious misconduct.
• The misconduct involved repeated inappropriate physical contact with multiple young children, including kissing a three-year-old on the lips.
• A tribunal found Gui demonstrated a concerning pattern of behaviour and a fundamental lack of understanding of professional boundaries.
• Despite warnings, Gui continued the inappropriate conduct at a second early childhood centre.
• The tribunal stated there was no sexual or indecent motivation but ruled the actions harmed children's well-being and would bring the profession into disrepute.
• Gui worked as a relief teacher at two Auckland centres in 2021, employed by Jitbug ECE Recruitment Agency.