Teacher Ankui Gui's Registration Cancelled After Inappropriate Contact

Key facts

• Ankui Gui's teacher registration has been cancelled.
• Gui engaged in inappropriate physical contact with multiple children between April and May 2021.
• He kissed a 3-year-old on the lips on at least two occasions.
• Gui also kissed the hand of a 4-year-old child.
• The incidents occurred at two Auckland early childhood centres: New Shoots Hobsonville and Pascals Herne Bay.
• Gui was employed as a relief teacher through Jitbug ECE Recruitment Agency.
• The Teachers' Disciplinary Tribunal cited a concerning pattern of behaviour.
• The tribunal found no sexual or indecent motivation but deemed the conduct serious misconduct.

Teacher Struck Off for Pattern of Inappropriate Contact

Ankui Gui, an early childhood relief teacher, has had his registration cancelled by the Teachers' Disciplinary Tribunal following a series of inappropriate physical interactions with young children. The decision, recently made public, removes Gui's ability to teach in New Zealand after he was found to have engaged in repeated misconduct between April and May 2021. The tribunal's findings detail a pattern of behaviour that, while not deemed sexual or indecent, constituted serious professional failing. The tribunal's ruling highlighted that Gui's actions were not isolated incidents but demonstrated a concerning pattern of inappropriate physical contact with multiple children across two different early childhood centres. This repeated behaviour, directed at several students, occurred while Gui was employed as a relief teacher. The cancellation of his registration signifies a definitive action taken by the disciplinary body to protect young learners. Gui's conduct included kissing a three-year-old child on the lips on at least two occasions, and also kissing the hand of another four-year-old. These actions, described as overly intimate, crossed professional boundaries, particularly for a relief teacher who had not established long-term relationships with the children. The tribunal's final decision, delivered by chair Jamie O’Sullivan, emphasised the fundamental lack of understanding of professional boundaries displayed by Gui.

Children's Discomfort and Reporting of Incidents

The tribunal heard evidence that at least one child felt uncomfortable enough to report Gui's behaviour to her parents, who subsequently alerted staff at the centre. This direct reporting by a child underscores the impact of Gui's actions on the well-being of the young learners. Parents and other teachers also expressed discomfort, with some staff members feeling compelled to intervene or report the incidents. One former colleague testified to witnessing Gui kiss a three-year-old boy on the lips on two separate occasions. In another instance, a father provided evidence that his daughter, a four-year-old, would not normally discuss teacher conduct but did so following the incident, prompting him to raise the issue with the centre. A further account from another teacher described Gui nuzzling his head into a three-year-old girl's chest while she was standing on a wooden box in the playground. These accounts collectively painted a picture of behaviour that, while lacking explicit sexual motivation, was deeply inappropriate for an educator. The tribunal noted that Gui's conduct adversely affected the well-being of learners and his own ability to teach, likely bringing the profession into disrepute. The children's bodily autonomy and boundaries were not respected, leading to potential harm.

Interim Name Suppression Lapses

Ankui Gui, also known as Ian Gui, had previously been granted interim name suppression along with the early childhood centres where he worked. This suppression, in place during an earlier hearing in 2024, has now lapsed, allowing him to be publicly identified. The centres involved were New Shoots Hobsonville and Pascals Herne Bay, both located in Auckland. Gui was engaged by the Jitbug early childhood education recruitment agency to work as a relief teacher. His tenure at these centres in 2021 saw the series of inappropriate interactions that ultimately led to the tribunal's investigation and decision. The recruitment agency's role in placing him at these facilities is part of the context surrounding the case. The Teachers' Disciplinary Tribunal's decision stated that Gui was warned about the inappropriateness of his conduct while working at New Shoots. Despite this warning, he continued to engage in similar behaviour at Pascals, indicating an unwillingness or inability to change his professional conduct. This pattern of disregard for warnings further solidified the tribunal's findings.

Tribunal's Findings on Professional Boundaries

The Teachers' Disciplinary Tribunal concluded that Gui demonstrated a fundamental lack of understanding of appropriate professional boundaries. This inability or unwillingness to change his behaviour was a key factor in the tribunal's decision to cancel his registration. Chair Jamie O’Sullivan explicitly stated that Gui's conduct was a concerning pattern, not isolated or accidental. The tribunal found that the conduct was overly intimate and crossed professional boundaries, particularly for a relief teacher. The children were placed in situations where their bodily autonomy and boundaries were not respected, leading to potential harm. While acknowledging the absence of sexual or indecent motivation, the tribunal stressed that the behaviour still amounted to serious misconduct. The consequences of Gui's actions were significant, leading not only to the cancellation of his registration but also to a formal censure. The tribunal's ruling serves as a strong message about the standards expected of educators in New Zealand.

The bottom line

• Ankui Gui's teacher registration has been permanently cancelled by the Teachers' Disciplinary Tribunal.
• The cancellation follows findings of serious misconduct due to inappropriate physical contact with multiple young children.
• Gui kissed a 3-year-old on the lips on at least two occasions and a 4-year-old on the hand.
• The incidents occurred in 2021 at two Auckland early childhood centres while Gui worked as a relief teacher.
• The tribunal noted a concerning pattern of behaviour and a lack of understanding of professional boundaries.
• No sexual or indecent motivation was found, but the actions were deemed to have adversely affected children's well-being and brought the profession into disrepute.