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A teacher who quit her job after she had sex with her 16-year-old pupil says she has no regrets – as the pair are now married with children.

Natasha Miller was working as an English teacher in Pahiatua, New Zealand, aged 23, when she met Year 12 student Hayden MacDonald, then 16, in 2006.

According to the New Zealand Herald, Natasha later resigned when her secret relationship with the boy was exposed.

She claimed to have developed feelings for the youngster because he came across as more mature than his peers.

(Image: Herald on Sunday)

"The assignments he handed in were well above the level of his age group... I respected his maturity," she said at the time.

"Hayden was polite and respectful and we had things in common like music and hobbies."

He added: "A lot of the boys at school were talking about her. She was really young and really attractive so that made lessons a lot better."

But Hayden's mum soon cottoned on when she noticed the lad was showering more often and grooming himself before going to class.

(Image: Herald on Sunday)

When she questioned him, Hayden told his mum he had been meeting up with Ms Miller for extra tutoring, a lie she quickly saw through when she demanded to see his texts.

Confronted with the truth, Natasha was given ultimatum: "Hayden or your job."

New Zealand authorities did not investigate her only because she was a student teacher, meaning she wasn't fully registered and therefore subject to the same rules as regular teaching staff.

Moving forward to the present, after 13 years, the pair are now raising a family, with two girls and one boy.

(Image: Herald on Sunday)

She works as a Year 9 pastoral carer at her local Dannevirke High School, while Hayden works is on staff at the nearby Palmerston North Boys' High.

He recently told the Herald on Sunday he was very happy.

He said: "Our relationship has lasted the distance, that's all I want to say."