A Parliamentary select committee has heard complaints about the automatic suppression of the Teachers' Council's Disciplinary Tribunal hearings.
The hearings deal with cases including sexual abuse of students by teachers and the tribunal's rules say the details cannot be published without its permission.
The tribunal publishes all its hearings on its website and allows the news media to report that information, though it does not include the names of the teachers, schools and complainants involved.
Wellington barrister Graeme Edgeler told the Regulations Review Select Committee on Thursday the rules are an unacceptable limitation on freedom of expression.
Mr Edgeler says the rules should be changed so hearings are public, but information can be suppressed where necessary.
