Child abuse 'nark' starts Facebook page

TAKING A STAND: Cherie Kurarangi Sweeney, branded a nark for talking about Serenity's death, has started a Facebook page, including photos of several high profile victims, to raise awareness of child abuse in New Zealand.

BABY SERENITY: No one has yet been held responsible for the Ngauruawahia baby's death.

NIA GLASSIE: The Rotorua three-year-old died in hospital after being badly beaten.

CORAL ELLEN BURROWS: The Wairarapa schoolgirl, also featured on Cherie's Facebook page, was found dead 10 days after she was reported missing.

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Facebook page: STOP Death by Abuse of our Children

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The woman branded a "nark" for speaking to police about the death of Ngaruawahia baby Serenity Scott-Dinnington has started a Facebook page to help fight against child abuse in New Zealand.

Six-month-old Serenity died in Auckland's Starship Hospital last month after her life support was switched off.

Police are investigating after medical staff reported her injuries were similar to shaken baby syndrome.

Serenity's neighbour, Cherie Kurarangi Sweeney, has held a second hui to discuss child abuse after the death.

Her Facebookpage page, STOP death by abuse of our children, this morning has more than 1000 likes.

Sweeney said those at the latest meeting on Thursday decided it was time to act on the "anti-nark culture" in Ngaruawahia and remove the barriers in the way of reporting child abuse.

Sweeney was branded a "nark" by some members of the community for talking to reporters and police about Serenity's death. Her home was even tagged with the label.

"I am not the only one who has been victimised for standing up," she said.

"It was good to hear other people speaking up at the hui [about being victimised] because it means there are others who can support me."

Area Commander for Western Waikato, Inspector Paul Carpenter, represented police at the hui and said if there was an anti-nark culture, there was only a small group behind it.

"The hui sent a loud and clear message that there is plenty of support for Cherie and speaking out."

But Carpenter acknowledged there were people who might feel too intimidated to report abuse to police.

"There are always agencies and people where they can get information through - it doesn't have to be police," he said.

"It's just about finding that opportunity and making the move."

Labour MP Nanaia Mahuta attended the follow-up meeting and said her impression was of a community that wanted to take control of eliminating violence.

"One of the big questions that was asked was: how do we eliminate the anti-nark culture in Ngaruawahia?"

Mahuta said the community needed to show zero tolerance toward victimisation of people who reported crime.

"That's a leadership issue. The [Waikato] District Council needs to step up. Community figures, services and even residents need to show some leadership."

Sweeney's Facebook page commemorates "beautiful children New Zealand has lost to abuse".

http://www.facebook.com/pages/STOP-Death-by-Abuse-of-our-Children/166417770086797

- © Fairfax NZ News