Former Christchurch Boys' High Teacher Gives Evidence Against Board & Denies Being Behind Anonymous Letters

31 March 2025. The New Zealand Reporter is a digital member of The NZ Media Council. Article: Susan Mowat v CBHS Board of Trustees case in the Employment Relations Authority.

Day one of the long-running employment dispute between Christchurch Boys’ High teacher Susan Mowat and her former employer begun this morning.

In the Employment Relations Authority, Mowat has made claims of doctored board minutes, being falsely accused of writing anonymous letters, organising an International Women’s Day boycott, poor handling of two investigations into her conduct, and of being targeted by principal Nic Hill. She also denied having an affair with Hill.

Pictured above with her back to the camera, she is trying to prove claims of unjustified constructive dismissal and unjustified disadvantage to ERA member Lucia Vincent. The case is set down for 5 days.

Mowat gave evidence for several hours, during which her counsel Kathryn Dalziel and Vincent had tense exchange over hearing times and Dalziel’s appeal to deliver an opening statement. Vincent turned down the latter request.

Mowat described boys’ high’s work culture as “positive” for most of her time there and a “brilliant” place.

She said her time at the school had worsened before 2018 and was aware of cultural problems. But it “really took off” in the first 6 months of that year.

Her working relationship with Hill had begun well enough.

She was at pains to describe her relationship as a working relationship and wanted to quash the idea she and Hill had had an affair.

Hill and his family had come to stay with her family and their paths “crossed” through her involvement in student groups.

Mowat says a female member of staff and a member of the senior leadership team approached her, seeking her help with Hill and (with the former to) “knock some sense into him in wellbeing”. She said they were current staff members.

She described a 2017 incident, when she sought to discuss her workload with Hill.

Referring to Hill’s statement, Mowat says Hill described the relationship as “robust”. But denied banging his fist. Mowat says he did.

She says her face went “hot” and “that startled” her and that a former head of finance, who is to give evidence, also had that experience. Hill also raised his voice.

The Kahu Road Incident

In 2018, Mowat and Hill clashed over student safety relating to yellow lines on Kahu Road.

In Hill’s statement, Mowat says he plays the matter down, while she believes it was important, and says she had informed two senior school leaders about it.

Mowat says, Hill incensed her, after he denied that any member of school management knew.

She said she found “his dishonesty incredibly unsettling”. Mowat said Hill’s behaviour forced her to send him two email chains for proof.

His conduct put an “absolute knot” in her “stomach”.

The NZ Positive education conference

Mowat says Hill instructed her to cancel her speaking spot for the New Zealand Positive Education Conference at Christs’ College, and forbade her from going.

She says Hill supported the idea at first. But he later changed his mind, expressing concern about what she would say about the school.

Mowat says Hill’s actions during the first term in 2018-including this order-led her to develop “stress-induced bronchitis” and force her to take leave from school and to go onto steroids.

She says Hill apologised to her over the incident and acknowledged he had been hard on her.

Mowat says that if this incident and the Kahu Road incident, she would have “gone along” and complied with Hill.

International Women’s Day 2018

Mowat says that Hill falsely believed she had organised a female boycott on International Women’s Day in 2018.

She says that she approached Hill for $200 to go towards food platters at a Dux and Dine social. Previously, she says, Hill had cancelled the school social committee, meaning all funds request shad to go through him.

Hill told Mowat that asking for the money was “cheeky” of her. She remonstrated with him and then asked for $100. Hill said she was “rude”.

Mowat says that the next day a group of females had decided not to sit with Hill at assembly, after they had heard Hill was going to speak about women’s day.

She says the women could choose to stand on the mezzanine floor.

Mowat says she was asked to tell two female careers staff members.

At the assembly, she says she sat with a wheelchair bound student.

All bar one of these female staff members were current females on staff today.

In a letter to Mowat, Hill said she was undermining him, she claimed. Hill had approached also another female staff member, believing Mowat had been responsible.

TVNZ Films at Boys’ High And Hill Speaks To Board

Mowat says Hill claimed he had told “all staff” about a TVNZ request to film at the school in June 2018. She says she and a Year 9 dean were unaware.

Hill says he was unaware of the request. But Mowat claims she has an email sent by a TVNZ journalist and Hill.

Mowat says Hill did not inform parents about the filming and only sought consent after the event. She also says his name was removed from a draft letter to parents that said he was the media contact. This made it appear as if the teachers were responsible for the bungle.

Mowat says that at August board of trustees meeting, Hill falsely declared parents and others had been told about the filming prior to it happening. Her lawyer Garth Galloway had supposedly told the board that this was not true and that “false information” can’t be put before the board.

He was told it “would be fixed up”.

Anonymous Letters and A Hidden Investigation