An Anglican Bishop says the decision of a deacon to remove children from an Easter Camp being run by the church in Auckland was based on groundless allegations.
The deacon, Tapu La-ulu, complained last week that he was suspended from his job after he removed 18 children from the camp.
He says he did so because there was a man present whom he had good reason to believe had sexually abused a young girl.
But Tai Tokerau Bishop Kito Pikaahu says the alleged offending is based on a 16-year-old rumour concerning two people who were teenagers at the time.
He says the allegations were investigated and dismissed by the family concerned - both then, and since.
Bishop Pikaahu says further implications that he was protecting the man because he is related to him are false.
