Family Integrity

Category: Some child abuse cases in NZ – since Section 59 amended

  • CYF girl’s death provokes inquiry

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10533231

    CYF girl’s death provokes inquiry

    4:00AM Saturday Sep 20, 2008
    By Elizabeth Binning

    An investigation is under way after a distraught 12-year-old girl died in Child Youth and Family care, less than a month after she was allegedly abused by a caregiver.

    The girl was found dead in a North Shore home by a younger sibling. Police say there were no suspicious circumstances and the case has now been referred to the Coroner.

    But the girl’s extended family are upset she was put into the care of a man who molested her and the fact it took four days for CYF to remove her once the allegations were made.

    The girl and her seven siblings were put into the care of a Northland family 2 1/2 years ago.

    Her father, who had supervised visits, told the Weekend Herald one of his sons accused the caregiver of hitting the children about two years ago but CYF never did anything about it.

    “We were always telling CYF that these caregivers were hurting our kids,” he said. “They said they would go and investigate it. They came back and said we were lying and the kids were making it up.”

    At the beginning of last month the girl told her father, during another supervised visit, that she was being abused by her caregiver.

    The father told the CYF case worker about the allegations that day but nothing happened. “He said, ‘I’m sorry to hear this but it’s only alleged’. I told him he can take us to the police – we had no vehicles to get there – and he said, ‘We’ll keep it internal and we’ll deal with it ourselves’.”

    Under agreed protocol the girl should have been immediately removed from the caregiver and police notified. But it is understood neither happened as the social worker did not alert anyone that weekend.

    By Monday, unhappy with the lack of action, the father went to his local MP and the police. CYF was also renotified. It was not until Tuesday that the children were all removed from the Northland family’s care.

    Because of the large number of siblings the girl and her 7-year-old sister were separated from the others and sent to a home in Auckland, which her family claim added to her distress. She was suffering from the abuse and had the added pressure of feeling responsible for separating her siblings.

    Last Saturday her younger sister found her dead in their bedroom.

    CYF deputy chief executive Ray Smith said the staff involved in the case were “devastated” and their deepest sympathies went to the family.

    “As always when a child in our care dies we will look into whether everything possible had been done to protect them from harm.

    “Allegations raised against one of the caregivers resulted in the matter being referred to the police … and the children were immediately removed while investigations occurred.”

    The family say the removal was not immediate as the case worker was told on the Friday and the children weren’t taken away until the Tuesday.

    The girl’s grandmother said she hoped her granddaughter’s death would result in changes within CYF.

    “Maybe she was giving her life to make life safer for others.”

    “““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““`

    Also see “Nature or Nuture” (pp. 10-1, 13-14) Herald Weekend Supplement. At the end of June 2008 4522 youngsters were in the care of CYF. The annual bill for looking after them rns to $778 milion and about 3/4 of that is spent on children in foster care. (p. 11)

  • Mum who beat son with gumboots bailed

    This is Child Abuse not reasonable force by way of correction:

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/4686614a11.html

    Mum who beat son with gumboots bailed

    Tuesday, 09 September 2008

    A judge has called for a victim impact report on a six-year-old boy who was lifted by the ears and beaten with a gumboot by his 28-year-old mother.

    Helen Dawn Jones admitted both the charges of assault on a child when she appeared before Judge Stephen Erber in Christchurch District Court today.

    Police prosecutor Trudi Aickin told the court both assaults occurred between June 7 and 10 at the mother’s Christchurch home.

    On the first occasion the boy ignored his mother who had asked him to go to his room.

    Jones grabbed him by the ears and pulled him up, leaving the ears bruised and bleeding.

    A health nurse later noticed blood behind the ears and bruising.

    A few days later, the boy threw a gumboot at his mother. She then beat him with the gumboot on the back of his legs and feet. The significant bruising was noticed by a caregiver when she was bathing the boy, Miss Aickin said.

    Judge Erber remanded Jones on bail to November 17 for a probation report and sentence and also ordered a victim impact report on the boy.

    Defence counsel Andrew Riches asked for a variation of Jones’ bail conditions so that she could have contact with the boy who was now in Child, Youth and Family care.

    Judge Erber altered her bail to allow the contact.

  • Baby fighting for life after incident at home: abuse suspected

    This is not Reasonable Force by way of correction it is child Abuse:

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/4643858a11.html

    Baby fighting for life after incident at home

    By SALLY FRENCH – Stuff.co.nz | Tuesday, 05 August 2008
    SHANE WENZLICK/Surburban Newspapers

    INVESTIGATION UNDERWAY: A police cordon surrounds the house in Papakura.

    A baby is fighting for his life in Auckland’s Starship Children’s Hospital after suffering non-accidental head injuries.

    Counties Manukau detective inspector John Tims said the Papakura child was taken to Middlemore Hospital by ambulance about 9.30pm on Saturday before being transferred to Starship Hospital.

    Tims said police were advised the injuries are non-accidental and potentially life threatening.

    He said the baby’s parents and maternal grandmother have all provided statements to police.

    “We want to acknowledge the family are co-operating with us.

    “The parents are at their son’s bedside and we are working with them,” Tims said.

    The boy lived at his parent’s home with his 18-month-old brother, and maternal grandmother.  The parents are aged 18 and 19.

    Tims said Children and Young Persons have been advised of the situation, and are working with Police in regards to the boy’s elder sibling.

    A specialist child abuse investigative team are conducting a scene examination at the baby’s Papakura home today, assisted by ESR specialists.

    Tims said police are in constant liaison with a paediatrician at Starship Hospital.

    “We will provide an update on the baby’s medical condition should there be any changes,” he said..

    More on this:

    http://www.odt.co.nz/news/national/16315/infant-fights-life-abuse-suspected

    Infant fights for life: abuse suspected

    A 4-month-old boy is in a critical condition in Starship Hospital after suffering head injuries at his South Auckland home.

    The baby was rushed to hospital on Saturday night before undergoing surgery on Sunday for what police believe are “non-accidental” head injuries received at his Papakura home.

    The Housing NZ home was yesterday cordoned off while police began investigations into what is suspected to be a case of serious child abuse……………..

    Neighbours yesterday knew little about the family who lived at the run-down home.

    One woman said parties were always being held there and people came and went at all hours.

    Another woman said police had arrived at the house about six months ago.

    Moments after they arrived, all the people in the house came out with their hands above their heads.

    She believed it was in relation to drug dealing at the house.

    Yesterday, an alcohol box and several empty beer bottles lay on the unmowed lawn, alongside other bits of rubbish.

    The front window was smashed and shards of glass lay on the ground.

    A child’s stroller could be seen behind a net curtain next to the broken window.

    Children’s Commissioner Dr Cindy Kiro said she was shocked and saddened to hear another child had been injured.

    “It’s terrible. Can you just imagine what these kids go through? Often it’s not the first time. There’s often a whole lot of precipitating things that lead up to the last incident where the child or baby is being abused,” she said.

    Dr Kiro is due to present a package of actions to tackle child abuse to a family violence taskforce this week.

    New Zealand has the third highest rate of infanticide of all the countries in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

  • Mum beat girl, terrorised her with knife

    This is child abuse not reasonable force by way of correction:

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/4620389a11.html

    Mum beat girl, terrorised her with knife

    Wednesday, 16 July 2008

    A Tauranga mother, who repeatedly beat her 12-year-old daughter and once held a knife to her throat because of “back-chatting” and behavioural problems, has been sentenced to home detention.

    In Tauranga District Court yesterday, Judge Stan Thorburn told Lucille Nelson, 41, who in May pleaded guilty to charges of assault on a child and assault with a stabbing weapon, that ordinarily her offending would have attracted a prison sentence.

    But in imposing home detention he took into account that Nelson was contrite, admitted her wrongdoing and accepted that she needed help.

    “Clearly there was a hugely complicated family situation, which lucky for the little girl is now out in the open, some of which pertains to her father,” he said.

    “The burden on this little girl’s life from this must have been absolutely horrendous. . . Hopefully over time you can start to reconstruct your relationship with your daughter.”

    Judge Thorburn told Nelson that while on home detention, she would undertake a “comprehensive set” of rehabilitation programmes including one on anger-management and would have to fulfil her parental obligations as directed by Child, Youth and Family (CYF).

    During her sentence Nelson must abstain from alcohol and non-prescribed drugs.

    According to the police summary of facts, on October 17 the victim was living with her mother, father and siblings.

    The girl confided to a teacher at her school that she was beaten regularly by her mother and CYF was notified.

    Two days later the victim disclosed to a CFY interviewer that from the start of January 2007 Nelson began giving her numerous beatings, punching her around the head, legs and arms with a clenched fist.

    As a result she received minor bruises and was sore for days and would wear long-sleeved tops and trousers to hide the bruises.

    On one occasion last year she said her mother came into her room holding a knife, pushed her on to the bed, climbed on top of her and put the knife to her throat.

    When her father came into the room, Nelson got off her and the little girl was able to escape.

    When spoken to by police in February, Nelson admitted she sometimes hit her daughter with a fist or open hand with such force that it hurt her hand but said she did so because the girl back-chatted her and had behavioural problems.

    – NZPA

  • Police investigate suspicious child death

    This is Child abuse NOT reasonable force by way of correction.

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/4605275a10.html

    Wednesday, 02 July 2008

    BREAKING NEWS: Nelson Detectives are currently at the scene of a suspected homicide involving a child at an address in Stoke.

    Police said they were alerted by ambulance staff just before midday that they had been called to the address with reports of an unresponsive child.

    The Coroner has been advised and a Post-Mortem has been ordered for tomorrow which police said is likely to take place in Nelson.

    The parents of the deceased are currently helping police with their enquiries and police said no-one else is being sought at this stage.

    Also

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/4605275a10.html

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/4605951a10.html

  • Child Abuse-Police: Toddler’s critical injuries inflicted in family care

    This was Child abuse – not reasonable force by way of correction

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/4604868a11.html

    Wednesday, 02 July 2008

    Another toddler is fighting for his life in Auckland’s Starship Children’s Hospital from injuries police say he got in the care of his family.

    The three-year-old Avondale boy was admitted to hospital on Monday after family members consulted relatives.

    Police were told of the child’s injuries, which included head wounds, on Monday afternoon.

    Police spokeswoman Noreen Hegarty said the boy was in a critical condition in a drug-induced coma and members of the Auckland police child abuse team were making preliminary inquiries,

    The child’s siblings had been removed from the family home to a “safe and secure” environment, Child Youth and Family said.

    – NZPA

    also:

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/4605951a10.html

  • Silence let child abuse continue

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/4592829a11.html

    Silence let child abuse continue

    By KAY BLUNDELL – The Dominion Post | Monday, 23 June 2008

    Three children repeatedly beaten with a broom handle were so hungry they had to rummage in rubbish bins, and yet neighbours were too scared to report the cruelty they witnessed.

    Kylie Tekani, 30, of Porirua, has been sentenced in Wellington District Court to eight months’ home detention after pleading guilty to three charges of cruelty to a child and assault with a weapon.

    The children, aged 5, 6 and 8, were repeatedly beaten and the youngest had such a severe infestation of head lice that her hair fell out in hanks.

    Neighbours in Penguin Grove saw the children searching through rubbish bins and asking for food. Locked outside, the children would huddle under a tree, sometimes till dark.

    Though people would slip food to them as they passed on their way to school, they were too scared to report the cruelty, partly because of the intimidating presence of patched Mongrel Mob members who lived in the street. “We know it is best to keep out of other people’s business,” a resident said.

    Another, gesturing toward the gang house, said it was wiser not to get involved. Others were too fearful to speak to The Dominion Post.

    Outside the court, Tekani said she was relieved the case was over. “I want to get on with a new life.”

    The court was told that Tekani was attending a violence intervention programme, had a new job, was going to church and was seeing her children under supervision.

    “You have made a real effort to improve your life,” Judge Bruce Davidson said.

    Police became aware of the children’s plight when the youngest girl was admitted to hospital. She had been hit on the back of the head so hard that her head was forced through a bedroom wall.

    The children’s stepfather, Norman Makai, 21, was jailed this year for 5 1/2 years for ill-treatment of the children and wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

    Judge Davidson said he believed Tekani had also been subjected to violence.

    “I have no doubt Makai was violent toward you … and to some extent wore you down, but you still failed to intervene to protect your three vulnerable children.”

    Makai had said he hit the girl because she had hardly eaten her dinner.

    Doctors found her emaciated and with bruising and swelling on the backs of her legs, on her buttocks and lower back from repeated beatings. The other children had similar injuries.

    The youngest survived brain surgery, but had to learn to walk and talk again and had to wear a crash helmet for six months to protect her injured skull.

    Medical staff indicated she would continue to suffer visual problems, behaviour disorders, learning and social problems and possibly seizures.

    Inspector Mike Craig said experienced police dealing with the case were shocked by the girl’s injuries and the ill-treatment the children endured.

    The children were placed in the care of Child, Youth and Family, and now live with their paternal grandmother.

    If only someone in the neighbourhood had alerted the police or CYF, the girl might not have ended up in hospital, Mr Craig said.

  • Abortions Increase – Tragedy for Teens and Families

    MEDIA RELEASE

    17 JUNE 2008

    The abortion figures for 2007 released by Statistics NZ today continue to paint a terrible picture for teenagers and families, and confirm the continued failure of the Abortion Supervisory Committee, as highlighted by the High Court case last week.

    Almost 4,300 teenagers had an abortion in 2007. Each week, over 80 teenagers have an abortion, and represent almost a quarter of all abortions performed in NZ.

    Since 1991, the number of 11-14 year olds having an abortion has increased by 141%. The number of abortions for 15-19 year olds has increased by 82%.

    “This is a tragedy for the girls involved, some as young as 11,” says Bob McCoskrie, National Director. “It is also devastating for the extended family, especially if the young girl has been sneaked off for the abortion by Family Planning or a School Counselor without the parents’ knowledge or consent.”

    “It provides evidence that the myth of safe sex pushed by Family Planning, the AIDS Foundation and similar groups is miserably failing our vulnerable young people, who are being made even more vulnerable by then being encouraged to have an abortion,” says Bob McCoskrie. “This is why 83% of parents in a recent US Zogby poll believe that programs should reinforce the abstinence and ‘wait’ message.”

    The overall abortion rate is at its highest ever, except for 2003. More than 350 abortions happen every week.

    At the same time as over 18,000 abortions were being performed in NZ last year, adoptions totalled less than 90, according to the Adoption Option Trust.

    “Of huge concern is the fact that 22% of abortions are being performed at 12 weeks or greater despite all the pictures, scans and scientific understanding of the fetal development of the unborn child,” says Mr McCoskrie. “These images are obviously being kept hidden from some of the women seeking an abortion.”

    Family First NZ is calling for a law which requires informed consent (including ultrasound) for all potential abortions, and counselling to be provided only by non-providers of abortion services. Parental notification of teenage pregnancy and abortion should happen automatically except in exceptional circumstances approved by the court.

    ENDS

    For More Information and Media Interviews, contact Family First:

    Bob McCoskrie JP – National Director

    Tel. 09 261 2426 | Mob. 027 55 555 42

  • Abortion – The worst form of Child Abuse

    MEDIA RELEASE

    10 June 2008

    Abortion Supervisory Committee Deserves Criticism

    Family First NZ is welcoming the comments by a High Court judge that the Abortion Supervisory Committee has been applying the abortion laws too liberally and has failed to adequately supervise the work of certifying consultants.

    “The Committee has ignored the original intention of parliament and because of their lack of supervision and inaction, this has effectively led to abortion on demand,” says Bob McCoskrie, National Director of Family First NZ.

    “As a result, approximately 18,000 abortions are performed every year, and since 1991, the number of 11-14 year olds having an abortion has increased by 144%. The number of abortions for 15-19 year olds has increased by 74%. Each week, almost 80 teenagers have an abortion, and represent almost a quarter of all abortions performed in NZ.”

    Ironically, at the same time as almost 18,000 abortions were being performed in NZ last year, adoptions totaled less than 90, according to the Adoption Option Trust.

    “Abortions being performed at greater than 12 weeks has increased by 220%, despite all the pictures and scans we are seeing showing the fetal development of the unborn child,” says Mr McCoskrie. “These images are obviously being kept hidden from some of the women seeking an abortion.”

    “The high numbers of abortions (despite all the supposed safe sex messages and availability of contraception), and now this ruling, confirms that the Abortion Supervisory Committee continues to fail both women and the unborn child.”

    Family First NZ is calling for a law which requires informed consent (including ultrasound) for all potential abortions, and counselling to be provided only by non-providers of abortion services. Parental notification of teenage pregnancy and abortion should happen automatically except in exceptional circumstances approved by the court.

    ENDS

    For More Information and Media Interviews, contact Family First:

    Bob McCoskrie JP – National Director

    Tel. 09 261 2426 | Mob. 027 55 555 42

  • Jail for man who tossed baby onto concrete path

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/topic/story.cfm?c_id=146&objectid=10513274

    4:05PM Thursday May 29, 2008

    A man has been jailed for tossing his one-year-old daughter into the air and letting her fall on to a concrete path and slashing a relative with a machete when he went to the baby’s aid.

    Raymond Kereti Ratu, 22, was sentenced to 20 months imprisonment after pleading guilty in Tauranga District Court yesterday to assaulting a child, injuring with regardless disregard for the safety of others, and possession of an offensive weapon, The Bay of Plenty Times reported.

    Crown prosecutor Sheree Christensen told Judge Stephen O’Driscoll it was fortuitous that neither the baby, who suffered bruises and grazes to her head, and Ratu’s other victim, who required nine stitches for a cut to his hand, were not more seriously injured.

    She said Ratu became angry his partner had left him looking after their baby while she went off in a car with friends.

    On her return Ratu confronted her at the car and fearing for her safety she locked the door, angering him even more.

    He threw the baby into the air about 4m causing her to land on the concrete footpath.

    His partner drove off to a relative’s home to get help.

    On her return, when two relatives tried to divert his attention to take the baby, he lashed out with the machete striking one on the hand.

    The baby was taken to Tauranga Hospital and spent one night under observation.

    – NZPA