This morning, 24 September 2024, St Peter’s issued the media statement copied below.

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Dear Alumni

This morning, 24 September 2024, St Peter’s issued the media statement copied below.

A former St Peter’s Cambridge staff member, Geoffrey Coker, is on trial for alleged historical student abuses in Hamilton District Court.

As the attached media statement outlines, we can confirm Geoffrey Coker was Director of Music at St Peter’s Cambridge between 1974-1976.

On 23 November 2022, NZ Police charged Mr Coker with historical sexual offending. Interim name suppression was granted to him at that time and is now lifted.

We have been fully cooperating with NZ Police with respect to these charges and will continue to do so.  

As many of you will remember, in November 2021 the St Peter’s School Trust Board acknowledged and apologised to alumni for historical cases of sexual, physical and emotional abuse against former students.

At that time, we encouraged survivors of historical abuse at our school to access support and counselling through an independent and confidential Listening Service. This remains active and alumni can contact the service by emailing alumniassist@outlook.com.

From the day we announced the School Trust Board’s apology in November 2021, we have chosen to be open and honest with our communication around the issue of historical student abuse and we will continue to do so within the confines of the law.

In line with this open approach, we felt it was important to acknowledge Mr Coker’s trial starting today.  However, pending determination of the judicial process, St Peter’s Cambridge will not make any further public statements during the trial.  

As always, thank you for your continued support of St Peter’s Cambridge.

Regards,

John Macaskill-Smith

School Trust Board Chair

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St. Peter’s, Cambridge confirms Geoffrey Coker was Director of Music from 1974-1976

St. Peter’s, Cambridge confirms that Geoffrey Coker was employed by the school as Director of Music from 1974 to1976.  

Mr Coker has been charged by NZ Police with offences relating to alleged historical student abuse and his trial began in the Hamilton District Court yesterday.

School Trust Board Chair John Macaskill-Smith said the school’s acknowledgement and apology for historical abuses of students in its care, made in November 2021, was a prompt for alumni to come forward to police and subsequent charges to be laid against Mr Coker.

“St. Peter’s Cambridge fully supports alumni who have come forward and wants to reassure them we have been cooperating fully with NZ Police and will continue to do so,” he said.

“So as not to prejudice the judicial process, St. Peters’ Cambridge will not make any further public statements about Geoffrey Coker while the trial takes place.”

Macaskill-Smith said a Listening Service is still available for alumni.

“In November 2021, we set up a Listening Service and encouraged survivors of historical abuse at our school to access support and counselling through this independent and confidential service. This remains available and alumni can make contact by emailing alumniassist@outlook.com.”

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St. Peter’s has many initiatives in place that safeguard current and future students of the school against all types of abuse.  The school has developed a child protection policy and processes, and invests in ongoing child safeguarding training for staff.  

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Child abuse prevention and safeguarding is openly discussed with students to reinforce that abuse in any form is not tolerated at St. Peter’s Cambridge. The school provides students with a range of ways they can report any concerns.

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