Father rained blows on daughter for swearing

A father seen hitting his eight-year-old-daughter in "a rain of blows" told a witness it was because "white people" had taught her to swear.

Steven Paongo, 41, pleaded guilty to a charge of assaulting a child in Hastings District Court yesterday.

Paongo, from Hastings, was in the driver's seat of a car parked in the town centre on the evening of November 18 when a woman in a hair salon saw him leave the car and walk to the back passenger's door. He opened the door and was seen hitting his daughter in "a rain of blows".

Paongo's arm was seen coming down on the child repeatedly. The witness left the salon and approached Paongo. She told him she had his car registration and would call the police.

Paongo stopped hitting his daughter and told the woman: "They swear, that's what happens. I send the kids to school. They know they're not allowed to swear. White people like you teach them how to swear."

The witness later called police.

When police and a social worker visited Paongo's house the following day the door was answered by the victim. Her right eye had broken blood vessels, which she said had occurred when her father hit her. She said the injury had meant she could not attend school that day.

Paongo admitted hitting his daughter but said it had only been once and was with a jandal.

Judge Geoff Rea sentenced Paongo to one year's supervision on any conditions set by his probation officer.