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An investigation is under way into claims “deliverance and exorcism” rituals to rid students of “demonic serpents” were performed by staff at an embattled Auckland school.

Two staff members at Wesley College have been suspended amid concerns the Pentecostal-like ceremonies were carried out in darkened rooms and without parental consent.

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A complainant from the school provided images of the “prayer classes” which they said showed staff “laying hands” on students. It’s alleged the young people were encouraged to help rid fellow students of dark forces and taught to “speak in tongues”.

Methodist Church president Te Aroha Rountree told the Herald she was shocked to learn of the exorcism allegations from the whistleblower in November.

It came just days after the Wesley College Trust Board had been dissolved by the church following the Ministry of Education’s urgent closure of the school’s hostels due to serious student safety concerns.

Rountree said that after meeting with the whistleblower, the church took immediate action to stand down the two staff members while an independent investigation was launched to assess what had occurred.

“Those kinds of practices were denounced in probably most mainline churches years and years ago,” Rountree said.

“We took the complaint seriously. As soon as we received information, we acted ... immediately to remove the people.”

A third staff member was suspended for “claims of negligence”, which were separate to the exorcism allegations.

The investigation is being carried out by health and safety legal expert Bridget Smith, who is due to report back next month. The findings would be shared with the Ministry of Education.

It's alleged the exorcism rituals were to rid students of "demonic serpents". Wesley College says there is "no place" for such practices at the school and the Methodist Church has launched an independent investigation.

The deliverance and exorcism claims are among a raft of allegations set out in a dossier of material presented to the church late last year, obtained by the Herald. It includes:

• Emails from staff saying boarding hostel cameras were inoperable for up to two months in early 2024, despite requests for them to be fixed due to safety concerns. 
• A March 2024 email from a senior staff member discussed an alleged assault on a Year 12 boy who was kicked in the head, with the attack videoed by another student. Extra security was brought in because the cameras were “still not working”. 
• Another email from a hostel dean earlier that month spoke of students in a dormitory being tired “as they are being slapped, having their nipples twisted and lockers being broken into during the night”. Another dean responded that one student was “sleeping with one eye open in fear he would be harassed”, but no consequences had been handed down to the boys who “tormented this young man”. 
• A March 2025 email from a hostel worker to then board chairwoman Jan Tasker raised a formal complaint against a consultant for “cultural insensitivity and derogatory comments”. It alleged the consultant discussed “micro-chipping” students, using electric shocks and balls and chains, and suggesting students should be “potty trained”. The man was spoken to by a school leader, but the comments were characterised as made in humour. It’s understood the man was recently contracted to work for the school again around the hostel closures. 
• Correspondence from May 2024 highlighted concerns from another hostel worker about staff shortages, including “solo shifts that occur more than they should”. Principal Brian Evans replied: “No staff is a concern, should not happen and very high risk with the current spotlight on us.” 
• An email from a dorm dean in November 2024 raised “significant concerns regarding current communications and safety procedures”. It related to the potential suicide risk of one student not being communicated to other staff, and the student allegedly being moved to his own room without supervision. It was in their view “a serious oversight that puts our students at risk and exposes the school to significant liability”.
• It’s alleged one of the staff running the unsanctioned prayer classes travelled to Indonesia to carry out exorcism rituals on villagers. It’s claimed he showed a video of himself performing a chanting ceremony on a young village girl to at least one Wesley College student and staff member.

Wesley College did not respond directly to the specific allegations outlined above.

‘Further fuel to an already unsettling time’

The dossier also includes a November 2025 email from the school’s superintending chaplain, Reverend Ali’itasi Aoina-Salesa, voicing concerns about a group of boarders being taken to off-site prayer meetings by two staff members.

She said there were to be no further visits without her being consulted, adding: “We are already under enough fire from the media to have an incident like last Thursday adding further fuel to an already unsettling time.”

The "deliverance and exorcism" ceremonies were allegedly carried out in darkened rooms.

She added that “the spiritual welfare and well-being of our students lies with the Methodist Church”.

Aoina-Salesa declined to discuss her concerns this week, telling the Herald staff had been instructed to refer questions to the principal “should anyone contact us”.

“With respect, we’ve been through a lot and so have our students and the staff concerned that have been stood down. The year’s been devastating and I don’t know whether further publications are going to help us heal.”

‘Things have been done in the dark without consent or knowledge’

The whistleblower said they were compelled to raise concerns directly with the church after attempts to have some of them addressed by school leadership for up to two years proved fruitless.

They felt hostel staff had unfairly been made scapegoats over the issues the school faced.

“We’ve done nothing but be honest and we have the evidence.”

In their opinion: “It’s [school] leadership that failed to keep students safe.”

The whistleblower said the prayer classes began in 2024 and had become increasingly “private”. They claimed parents had “no idea” their children had been subjected to fringe religious rituals at the school.

It's alleged students were taught to "speak in tongues" as part of the unsanctioned Pentecostal-like rituals held at Wesley College.

“These kids were entrusted to us by the parents. The majority are Methodist. What was happening was completely against what they’ve been brought up to believe.

“To know things have been done in the dark without consent or knowledge is very dangerous. I would be devastated if I found out what was happening. I would feel betrayed.”

Principal Evans confirmed three staff had been suspended and an independent investigation launched into the allegations.

“The practices have no place and I believe the trust board acted swiftly and fairly so things could be investigated fully. In fairness it is not appropriate to say any more.”

A staff member is allegedly seen "laying hands" on a Wesley College student during one of the ceremonies. The claims have sparked an independent investigation.

Evans said the dorm closures were well documented.

“We feel we have made huge strides in recent, obviously turbulent years, but it is a timely reset and provides an opportunity to refresh and rethink boarding in a modern context.”

Rountree said the college community was united in its focus on safeguarding and prioritising the academic and emotional well-being of students, whānau and family.

“We acknowledge the impact and harm any spiritual, emotional and physical bullying or abuse has had on our students,” Rountree said.

“There is absolutely no place for this behaviour at Wesley College, and alongside the independent investigation we are continuing to respond by making changes around policy, procedure, governance and oversight.”

The trust board, representing the church, proactively decided to close the hostels in November due to safety concerns, although the ministry urgently brought the closure forward, sparking legal action by the school.

Te Aroha Rountree (Ngai Tuteauru, Ngāpuhi), current President of the Methodist Church.

“We welcome any complaints and disclosures hostel students and staff want to make to the Wesley College Trust Board, along with any responses and feedback from the wider community, as we continue to develop and nurture a culture of openness and reconciliation,” Rountree said.

Ministry of Education north leader Isabel Evans said the ministry was aware of the allegations and the nature of the concerns, although she would not say when the ministry was alerted or by whom.

“We continue to support both the trust board and school board as they work through these matters.”

Lane Nichols is Auckland desk editor for the New Zealand Herald with more than 20 years’ experience in the industry.