The Education Minister has asked the Teachers Council to urgently review cancellations of the registration of teachers with serious convictions.
It follows revelations that some teachers, including paedophiles, remain registered after pleading guilty to dangerous crimes.
Education Minister Hekia Parata says at least two high profile convicted sex offenders are still listed as registered teachers and that should not be allowed to happen.
That includes the paedophile James Parker, who was convicted of 74 charges of sexual abuse of young boys in August.
Ms Parata says common sense needs to prevail in situations like that and she has asked the Teachers Council to rapidly reassess how it processes deregistrations .
She says the council has told her it will move as quickly as possible to process cancellations of teacher registrations where such teachers have serious convictions.
