Every Kiwi should speak out on child abuse

Every New Zealander needs to act as a welfare agent, reporting any child abuse to counter a shameful culture of silence, political leaders and child welfare groups say.
Abused children expelled for violence

A national outcry over the treatment of three-year-old Nia Glassie, allegedly spun on a clothesline and put in a drier, has drawn attention to what critics say are widespread failures in systems to keep children safe from abuse.

Prime Minister Helen Clark said yesterday it was "reprehensible" that neighbours were aware of Nia being abused but did nothing.

"It seems to me almost incredible that people were not aware within the wider family, neighbourhood and community."

Nia is in Starship children's hospital in Auckland with critical injuries, allegedly sustained in weeks of abuse at her home in Rotorua.

Days after the allegations became public a second Rotorua child, a 12-week-old boy, was admitted to the hospital with head injuries.

Labour MP Shane Jones said Nia's case highlighted the hopelessness of the plight of many children when adults failed to act.

"There is an element that we are losing in New Zealand, the view that 'I am my brother's keeper'. I think a lot of people are genuinely afraid of these groups, these pockets of thugs."

Mr Jones said "kids need to be taken away" from parents in drug and alcohol-fuelled lifestyles.

United Future leader Peter Dunne threw petrol on to the debate by calling on Maori to sort out the problem.

"It is time to stop pretending that the kind of child abuse suffered by Nia Glassie and the Kahui twins is not a Maori problem. Within some families there is a culture of cover-up and collaboration that condones long-term child abuse."

Maori Party co-leader Pita Sharples said he was ashamed to hear about every case of child abuse among Maori.

He said problems of child abuse stemmed from a dysfunctional culture which happened among poverty-stricken and underachieving communities, a group in which Maori were too highly represented, and that Maori needed to take ownership of the problem and working towards solutions.

National Collective of Independent Women's Refuges chief executive Heather Henare said the cases were shocking but warned against "Maori-bashing".

"The overwhelming majority of Maori are sickened by child abuse, and deserve support and encouragement to face the challenge of breaking the cycle of violence within their hapu and whanau."

Rotorua Mayor Kevin Winters said people should report any signs of child mistreatment and put aside concerns about politically correct behaviour.

"I want people to become nosy neighbours from now on.

"This is not a Rotorua problem. This is a New Zealand problem."

Family advocate group Jigsaw called on all people to come forward if they knew of child abuse.

"Many New Zealanders have turned a blind eye when they have witnessed child abuse in their community or have felt that they have no right to interfere in the way that other parents or families bring up their children," Jigsaw joint chief executive Liz Kinley said.

Unicef NZ executive director Dennis McKinlay said everyone had to become an agent for child protection.

Nia was in a stable condition last night.

Police say they are getting good cooperation in their investigation into the alleged abuse and torture of the three-year-old.

Detective Senior Sergeant Mark Loper of the Rotorua CIB said yesterday investigations were continuing into the injuries suffered by the girl, who is in a serious but stable condition in Auckland's Starship Hospital.

He also confirmed a second Rotorua child had been admitted to Starship Hospital early on Saturday but would say only that police were investigating how the 12-week-old baby boy is thought to have received suspicious head injuries. The injuries were not life threatening.

Mr Loper said police were still talking to family and extended family of Nia as well as others, such as kohanga reo staff, who had access to the little girl.

The majority of those spoken to so far had been very helpful, he said.

Four people facing charges related to the treatment of Nia appeared in Rotorua District Court yesterday.

William Curtis, 47; Michael William Curtis, 21; Michael Paul Pearson, 19; and Oriwa Terrina Kemp, 17, were then led into the courtroom. Michael Curtis had a noticeable black eye.

William Curtis he is charged with assaulting Nia Glassie over a four-month period this year, between March 1 and July 1. He also faces a charge that, between the same dates, he injured the little girl with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

Michael Curtis, Pearson and Kemp - all unemployed - face a joint count of assaulting Nia between July 18 and July 20.

No pleas were entered.

The accused were expected to make bail applications but Judge Weir remanded them in custody.

Bail applications will be heard on August 8.

Meanwhile a fifth defendant Wiremu Curtis, 17, who is in Auckland, is due to appear in the Rotorua District Court on August 6. It is expected he will be remanded for two days and return with his co-accused.

Wiremu Curtis is the partner of toddler Nia's 34-year-old mother, the son of William Curtis, brother of Michael Curtis and cousin of Pearson. Kemp is the girlfriend of Michael Curtis.

- with NZPA