MEDIA RELEASE

11 March 2009

Child Abuse Death Rate Is Killing Us

Family First NZ says that the police announcement of a homicide investigation into the death of Taupo five-week-old Jayrhis Ian Te Koha Lock-Tata is a tragic reminder that the rate of child abuse deaths has continued at the same rate as before the flawed anti-smacking law and we are failing to identify and tackle the real causes.

“While good families are being investigated and thrown under suspicion because of the extremist anti-smacking law, child abuse has continued at the same rate and the same old underlying issues of drug and alcohol abuse, family breakdown and dysfunction, the presence of non-biological adults in the house, low maternal age, poverty and single parenthood continue to be downplayed,” says Bob McCoskrie, National Director of Family First NZ.

“Before Bradford’s anti-smacking law was passed, there were an average of 7 child abuse deaths per year since 2000. Since the anti-smacking law was passed 20 months ago, there has been 12 child abuse deaths.”

The ‘roll of horror’ of child abuse deaths includes 2 year old Jhia Te Tua, 16 month old Sachin Dhani, 22-month-old Tyla-Maree Flynn, 3 year old Nia Glassie, Ten-month-old Jyniah Te Awa, Two-month-old Tahani Mahomed, 3 year old Dylan Rimoni, 7-year-old Duwayne Pailegutu, 16-month-old Riley Osborne, 3-year-old Cherish Tahuri-Wright, and now little Jayrhis.

“NZ’ers are sick of our leaders ‘fluffing’ around the real issues of child abuse,” says Mr McCoskrie.

Family First has a 5 point Action plan to tackle child abuse – www.stoptheabuse.org.nz

ENDS

For More Information and Media Interviews, contact Family First:

Bob McCoskrie – National Director

Mob. 027 55 555 42


Comments

One response to “Child Abuse Death Rate Is Killing Us”

  1. I would like to humbly submit my ideas for dealing with child abuse:

    How to deal with child abuse: Part 1

    How to deal with child abuse: Part 2

    I have explained the origins of the anti-family agenda of Sue Bradford et al here:
    Finding out which politicians are family-friendly (and why the rest aren’t)

    NB: Paula Bennett, who is presently in power, is no better:
    Paula Bennett Claims Ownership Of All New Zeland Children

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