A former Whakatane teacher caught sending texts of an intimate nature to a 10-year-old girl has had his registration cancelled and has been censured for serious misconduct.

The Teachers Disciplinary Tribunal also declined Bart de Jong's appeal to have his name suppressed.

In 2012, police charged de Jong, who now lives in Tauranga, with sexual grooming following an investigation into a complaint laid by the parents of a 10-year-old girl, who was a pupil at the same school he taught at.

The investigation found that between December 17, 2011, and December 30, 2011, de Jong engaged in prolific text messaging with the girl.

The student had also been a pupil in de Jong's class in 2011 before being moved to another class in 2012.

'The text messaging was of an intimate and affectionate nature including stating he missed the student, loved her, called her his girlfriend and sent text messages ending with a series of x and o, a common depiction for kisses and hugs,” said a report released by the tribunal.

'He warned the student a number of times by text to make sure her mother did not find out about the text messaging otherwise they might get into trouble.”

When questioned by the principal about his actions, de Jong said he had only text the student once about a surfing trip he had organised through the school, but came forth with the truth when the principal told him his cellphone records could be accessed through his provider.

In September, 2012, de Jong was found not guilty when he appeared in Whakatane District Court.

In his sentencing notes, Judge Louis Bidois said de Jong's actions were 'deplorable, disturbing and deceitful” and that 'the charge was not mare out – not because you proved your innocence, but because the legislation was not well drafted”.

In a statement to the tribunal, de Jong said he maintained from the beginning his actions were wrong.

'I have taken responsibility for my actions and have paid a hard price for what I did.”

He indicated to the tribunal that he had no intention to teach again, volunteered to give up his registration, and now works in a different industry that doesn't involve children.

'He agreed the appropriate penalty was that he be censured and his registration cancelled,” said the tribunal report.

After evaluating all the evidence, the tribunal ruled that de Jong be censured and his registration be cancelled.

The tribunal also ordered he pay the complainant $3332.28.