On the 29th of January 2020, a four-year-old child in Flaxmere, was beaten so badly that part of his brain has died. He received a continued beating over several days and he will be severely brain-damaged for the rest of his life.
Just as hard to comprehend is that despite the fact that many people were present when this child was getting beaten, the family has chosen to be silent. NO ONE has been charged in relation to this horrendous abuse.
How can this happen? Then…..
On the 8th of February 2020, a homicide investigation was launched after a five-year-old boy was killed . And….
Sofia Taueki-Jackson, a 1-year-old from Auckland died. What happened is unclear as the family is not talking, and no one has been charged.
New Zealand has one of the worst records of child abuse in the ‘developed world.’
Every time a child has died from abuse in NZ, the nation is outraged and we find it hard to comprehend how anyone can hurt a child, yet it happens over and over again.
This is Delcelia Witika, she died in 1991. She was two years old.
This is one of the worst cases of child abuse in the country.
Delcelia died of peritonitis caused by blows to her abdomen. Delcelia also suffered from severe malnutrition, a broken jaw, and burns to 15 percent of her body and many other injuries.
Delcelia’s mother and her mother’s partner who lived in South Auckland were charged with the murder of the 2-year-old.
A jury found them guilty and both were sentenced to 16 years in prison
The Homicide Report:
The Homicide report was produced by Stuff.co.nz. It is the first publicly searchable database of homicides in New Zealand between 2004-2019. It showed:
- There have been 139 victims of homicide under the age of 15 between 2004-2019.
- One in eight victims of homicide in NZ is under the age of 15.
- More than two-thirds of the victims were aged 2 and under.
- Of the cases where the killer’s relationship to the victim was known, 27% were mothers, 24% were fathers, and 17% were de facto partners.
- UNICEF Report
Released 15 June 2017
- New Zealand has the highest rate of teen suicide in the OECD
- New Zealand has the 6th highest teen pregnancy rate in the OECD
- New Zealand has the 7th highest rate of child homicide in the OECD.
Source: stuff.co.nz
On average, 1 child dies every 5 weeks in New Zealand
Between 1 January 2019 and 30 November 2019, 11 children and young people died as a result of homicide in New Zealand.
Chris and Cru Kahui were aged 3 months when they died in 2006.
Their father was charged with their murder but was acquitted in 2008.
A coroner’s inquest was held in 2012 and made the following findings:
- the boys died while in the sole care of their father
- that the traumatic brain injuries suffered by Chris and Cru Kahui were incurred by them . . . whilst they were in the sole custody care, and control of their father
- the father can not be tried again unless compelling new evidence is uncovered
No one has ever been held accountable for the death of the twins.
Child Abuse in New Zealand
Violence against kids often begins as physical punishment and then evolves into full-scale abuse.
This can cause prolonged and severe brain damage to young developing brains. Children under five years, and particularly infants and newborns are most at risk of violence and maltreatment in New Zealand.
Experiencing or witnessing abuse in the early years is linked to learning and anxiety disorders, mental and physical health problems, drug and alcohol abuse, insecurity and depression, low self-esteem, and early pregnancy.
Every year Oranga Tamariki receives more than 150,000 reports of concern relating to children.
CHILD ABUSE STATISTICS IN NEW ZEALAND
- On average a child dies every five weeks as a result of violence and maltreatment in New Zealand, and children under 12 months old make up the majority of this statistic.
- Children under the age of 18 make up 20% of all violent deaths in New Zealand.
- A 2012 survey found 7% of youth had witnessed adults at home physically hurting each other and 14% had witnessed adults physically hurting children.
- In 2015, there were 14 victims of homicide aged under 14 years. Eleven of those victims were aged under five years old.
- 20% of girls and 9% of boys in New Zealand report unwanted sexual touching or forced to do sexual things.
- In 2015, there were 6,491 recorded instances of common and serious assaults on a child and 1,982 for sexual assaults on a child.
Three-year-old Moko Rangitoheriri died in 2015.
He suffered from some of the worst child abuse seen in NZ. The souls of his feet were the only part of his little body that was not bruised and beaten.
His mother and her partner were sentenced to 17 years’ imprisonment at the with a minimum sentence of nine years.
The highest sentence imposed in New Zealand for the manslaughter of a child.
After his death, the nation was outraged and vowed that this would not happen in NZ again….
Some more statistics
- There are 14,000 substantiated findings of child abuse every year in New Zealand.
- Police respond to a domestic call-out every seven minutes.
- Out of all family harm investigations. Approximately 1/3 occurred in the Auckland Region.
- Alcohol is a factor in nearly a third of homicides in New Zealand.
- Māori are the ethnic group most disproportionately represented, accounting for 44 per cent of offenders. Poverty and deprivation appear to be the driving force behind this statistic, 10 times more homicides occur in the most deprived neighbourhoods than the least deprived. There are much more Māori living in deprivation. more than half of child victims are killed by a parent or caregiver
- Car crash is the most common cause for 15 to 17-year-old victims
Source: stuff.co.nz
NZ POLICE
Family harm, of which family violence is a subset, is a far-reaching social issue in New Zealand. Police are committed to reducing the prevalence and impact on families, including but not limited to domestic violence.
As part of Police’s Safer Whānau programme of work, we launched ‘Police Practice’ in May 2018, a multi-agency
approach to reducing family harm in partnership with iwi, community government, and non-government agencies.
With ‘Police Practice’, we’re modernising the way we collect and provide evidence, introducing new ways to record quality investigations, and equipping our frontline officers with the tools and skills to achieve better outcomes for victims.
We have dedicated staff who in partnership, provide specialist services to support victims and offenders alike with the goal to break the cycle of harm in our highest risk communities.
This is Nia Glassie. She was 3 years old when she died in 2007.
She suffered from horrific ongoing abuse and beatings that equated to torture.
Nia lay in a coma for 33 hours before medical help was requested.
Five people were charged with offences relating to assault, murder, manslaughter and failure to seek medical help.
Two were given life with a non-parole period of 17 ½ years.
Her mother was sentenced to nine years for manslaughter
No more words………
The Ministry for Vulnerable Children, Oranga Tamariki
Oranga Tamariki was established as a new stand-alone Ministry in April 2017. It was formed from Child, Youth and Family, The Children’s Action Plan, Community Investment and other parts of The Ministry of Social development, bringing all of these services for children together in one Ministry.
On their website, they say they are a Ministry dedicated to supporting any child in New Zealand whose wellbeing is at significant risk of harm now, or in the future.
The Oranga Tamariki Way
We’re introducing a new way of doing things.
We recognise that oranga is a journey
We understand the long-term impact of our actions today
It’s important that we take the time to get things right. It will take four to five years for all the new services, systems and processes to be in place.
We’re working closely with a wide range of agencies, organisations and individuals, including young people and caregivers, and together we’ll create a better way of doing things.
We will question, “Is this working?”, and if it’s not, we’ll change it
Source: https://www.orangatamariki.govt.nz/about-us/overview
Oranga Tamariki put out ‘The Quarterly Report’ which gives a snapshot of how we are performing in relation to the Outcomes Framework. It allows us to see how children and young people move through our system, supported by dedicated services.
This report covers the 12 months to 31 March 2020
- They have had 83,300 reports of concern, involving 60,200 individual children and young people.
- There were 42,800 assessments or investigations carried out, involving 35,800 individual children and young people.
- There were 1,100 entries to care
- As of 31 March 2020, there were 6,100 children and young people currently in the Care and Protection custody of the Chief Executive.
- Out of the 6,100 in care, 47% were female and 52% were male.
- 59% were Maori,10% Maori and Pacific, 6% Pacific and 26% were other.
- 7% were aged 0-1 years, 22% aged 2-5 years, 24% aged 6-9 years, 23% aged 10-13 years and 24% aged 14 or older.
A Pahīatua toddler suffered in pain for hours while his carers callously did nothing to seek help for him before he finally succumbed to his injuries.
Ashton, 4, died on April 6, 2017, having suffered blunt-force trauma that tore his intestine.
He also had a head injury similar to those people suffer in car crashes or when a baby is shaken, and 65 bruises of various ages all over his body, including his head.
Ashton’s mother will spend three years and 11 months in jail and her partner four years and one month behind bars.
There was no evidence either of the pair caused the injuries that killed Ashton, he could have been saved if they had given him medical attention in a timely manner.
How did they think this was OK?
What is happening in New Zealand?
Why does abuse keep happening to our children?
New Zealanders make a loud and angry noise every time a child is hurt or killed, yet in most cases, there is a code of silence. These babies can suffer from abuse for days, months and even years and, while family members and neighbours turn a blind eye.
Some abusers and killers of our children suffer from mental health issues, how do we find these people and provide support and help before things go too far?
The Police, the Government, Oranga Tamariki and lots of other social agencies have put in measures to combat these horrific statistics yet it continues. So what is the answer?
Would you look the other way if a family member or neighbour was disciplining their child physically? Or would you think ‘it’s not my business, I’m not getting involved.’
Helplines for children and young people
Youthline – Free call 0800 376 633, free text 234, email talk@youthline.co.nz or Webchat from 7pm–10pm
thelowdown.co.nz – or email team@thelowdown.co.nz or free text 5626
What’s Up – 0800 942 8787 (for 5–18-year olds). Phone counselling is available Monday to Friday, 12noon–11pm and weekends, 3pm–11pm. Online chat is available Monday to Friday from 1pm–10pm and Saturday and Sunday from 3pm–10pm.
Kidsline – 0800 54 37 54 (0800 kidsline) for young people up to 18 years of age. Open 24/7.
In an emergency, call police 111
Help for parents, family and friends
Need to talk? Free call or text 1737 any time for support from a trained counsellor
Lifeline – 0800 543 354 (0800 LIFELINE) or free text 4357 (HELP)
Alcohol and Drug Helpline – 0800 787 797
Are You OK – 0800 456 450 family violence helpline
Shakti Crisis Line – 0800 742 584 (for migrant or refugee women living with family violence)
Shine – 0508 744 633 confidential domestic abuse helpline
Vagus Line – 0800 56 76 666 (Mon, Wed, Fri 12 noon – 2pm). Promote family harmony among Chinese, enhance parenting skills, decrease conflict among family members (couple, parent-child, in-laws) and stop family violence
Women’s Refuge Crisisline – 0800 733 843 (0800 REFUGE) (for women living with violence, or in fear, in their relationship o
Family Services 211 Helpline – 0800 211 211 for help finding (and direct transfer to) community-based health and social support services in your area.
If you believe a child is in immediate danger, call the Police on 111.
REPORTING A CONCERN
If you’re worried about a child and want to make a referral or report of concern, call us on freephone:
0508 326 459
or email contact@ot.govt.nz
Get in touch if you think a child or young person may be:
- unsafe or in danger of harm
- suffering from ill-treatment, abuse or neglect
- or you’re not sure if you should be concerned and want advice, or just to talk things through.
A social worker will work out how urgent this is, and the best thing to do next.
What we’ll need to know when you get in touch:
- what you’re worried about
- details of any incidents, including dates
- details about the child or young person and their family, such as names and addresses.
AFTER HOURS
From 5pm to 8am Monday to Friday, weekends and public holidays, social workers will only assess emergency situations. But we encourage you to call if you’re unsure.
Thanks to the following sources:
Stuff.co.nz: The Homicide report
Stuff.co.nz: Faces of Innocents
NZ Herald
Crime.co.nz
TVNZ.co.nz
Living at the Cutting edge : University of Waikato (School of Law and the Māori and Psychology Research Unit) for the Ministry of Women’s Affairs
For the Sake of Our Children’s Trust:24 Year Snapshot of Child Abuse and Neglect Deaths in NZ
Unicef.org.nz
Childmatters.org.nz
Rnz.co.nz
New Zealand Police
Scoop.co.nz
orangatamariki.govt.nz
New Zealand Mysteries 