A NEW ZEALAND teacher has been censured after she was caught stealing lunches from her pupils.

At first, children at the childcare centre were ignored when they complained food was being taken from their lunchboxes in November, 2011, according to the New Zealand Herald.

It wasn't until the teacher was captured on a security camera opening the children's lunchboxes and pocketing food - or putting it directly into her mouth - that her pupils were taken seriously.

The teacher did not deny the allegations.

The New Zealand Teacher's Council ruled her behaviour amounted to serious misconduct and put limits on the woman's teaching certificate.