Table of Contents
Judith Ann
Bluntly, these maltreatment deaths are shocking statistics of family violence and dysfunction. These are our children who have died in cruel circumstances but the facts remain there are many more who continue to ‘live’ and suffer harm, fear and horrendous abuse. I cannot turn away.
New Zealand experiences a tragic child homicide rate, with police data indicating that a child is killed approximately every four to five weeks. Over the last decade, about 113 children aged 17 or younger were killed. Two-thirds of these victims were aged under five, making very young children the most vulnerable group.
Key statistics and factors include:
- International Comparisons: In recent years, New Zealand has recorded significantly higher homicide rates for children under five years compared to peer nations. The rate is roughly 3.5 times higher than in Australia and 7.3 times higher than in the United Kingdom.
- Vulnerability: Infants and children under one year are statistically at the highest risk.
- Perpetrators: In fatal maltreatment cases, the assailants are most frequently parents or step-parents, with blunt force trauma to the head being the leading cause of death.
- Child Protection Context: Advocacy groups and the Children’s Commissioner have repeatedly raised concerns that many of these victims were previously known to state protection services like Oranga Tamariki.
My new journey began for Kiwi children in March 2024. A news item hit me when three children were found with multiple injuries and in great distress. When this was reported, instead of simply feeling this is terrible news, it was as if my heart just broke. I found I was very distressed but also infuriated that this could happen in my beautiful country. As a retired educational professional, I knew as a country we must to do better and I had to try to do something.
Here are the raw statistics. Each little one, documented with a stark realisation, was entrapped in a frightening violent situation. They didn’t stand a chance of fighting back.
Released 19 January 2021
• One in six New Zealand women experience sexual violence from an intimate partner during their lifetime
• Child sexual abuse rates: 1 in 5
• Non-partner sexual assault: 1 in 14 – Oranga Tamariki Care and Protection
Year ended 31 December 2020
• 78,900 reports of concern made
• 41,300 assessments or investigations carried out
• 8,200 Family Group Conferences held. – The Homicide Report
Released 13 May 2019
• Every 8th homicide victim in New Zealand from 2004 to 31 March 2019 was a child
• More than two thirds of the victims were aged 2 or under
• Of the cases where the killer’s relationship to the victim was known, 27% were mothers, 24% were fathers, and 17% were de facto partners. – UNICEF report
Released 15 June 2017
• New Zealand has the highest rate of teen suicide in the OECD
• New Zealand has the 6th highest teen pregnancy rate in the OECD
The numbers are bleak! As a New Zealander living in this beautiful country, we must face up to these shameful statistics and ask, why are other countries’ statistics so much lower than ours? It is desperate that many victims are vulnerable under-five-year-olds. This is a multi-layered problem but scaling up home visits to young parents to give support is one small beginning of a solution. Early intervention, surely, is crucial.
How do we change this disgrace?
I wrote to all politicians pointing out our shameful record but have had no meaningful replies. I had face-to-face conversations with representatives of all the major political parties that I could find in the area where I live – Bay of Plenty – but this has not produced any change.
I wrote to Karen Chhour, the minister for child welfare, believing she would be supportive, knowing her story of being a social welfare child. I asked her to see what structures are in place for the welfare of children where they thrive and not barely survive. Her response was that she would ask the CEO of child welfare to do this research. I heard nothing back. I asked under the Official Information Act what she had learned and her reply was to send a whole bunch of unhelpful internal reviews.
The government’s child care agencies in New Zealand.
Here are some: Oranga Tamariki, NZ Police Child Protection, Mana Mokopuna – Children’s Commissioner, Te Whata Ora (Health NZ), Te Puaruruhau (Star Ship Health), VOYCE –Whakarongo Mai and Barnardos Aotearoa NZ.
Whatever they are doing is not protecting Kiwi children! For example, here is a short interview by Michael Laws with Arran Jones, the Independent Children’s Monitor Chief Executive, on the Platform, that took place last week. While Jones appears concerned, let’s look at the horrific growing statistics under his and these other agencies. Watch.
Pointing the finger does not make a difference, but it does identify the terrible statistics. In the 12 months to 25th March, 530 children in state care experienced harm. The shocking factor is this is an increase of 23 from the previous year. Jones’s sad answer to this crime is to check performance and write data-driven reports, but he has no urgent solutions to this surge in numbers.
What needs to change?
1) I believe the way child welfare operates and their unwillingness to learn from the best countries on the UNESCO ranking. Oranga Tamariki needs to start listening. We should aim as a country to be the best, not the worst, for children’s wellbeing.
2) This is not a political issue – all parties have failed our children – and they need to unite and make changes based on what works in other countries.
3) It’s not about throwing more money at it. It is about being smarter and focusing on individual families and their needs. Jacinda Ardern’s Labour Government threw $5.5 million of taxpayer’s money at lifting children out of poverty, but we don’t see any improvement in our child wellbeing outcomes. Where did that money go?
4) I have done the research and dare I suggest that it starts with a proper modern database that contains a list of all children in New Zealand and is linked to all educational and health providers, including hospitals and dentists. Early warning signs would be poor attendance at school or concerns from early childhood centres or teachers. Child welfare responses need to be supportive, not punitive. Families with children need support not criticism. No one sets out to be a bad parent, but parenting is very hard work and parents of young children need support, especially if the extended family are not supportive.
Matt Doocey, the MP for mental health reports the government is giving $20.2m to families. See here:
“One of the most important periods in a child’s life is the first 2000 days. By providing support to families early, we can help build a stronger future for our children,” he said.
“That’s why we are making a significant investment in maternal mental health. This funding will support specialist maternal mental health and addiction services, while also growing the frontline workforce.”
Doocey said the funding would pay for new peer support workers, enabling mothers to connect with people who have lived experience and understand what they are going through and expanding the frontline workforce.
Once again, the government is throwing money at a problem that’s already happened but not preventing the problem before it happens.
Maybe an increase of funding to Plunket nurses (with current registration and training) to scale up from one home visit at four to six weeks and start regular home visits of new mums throughout the whole country? Following up and tracking to make sure the mum is doing well and the child is thriving, with support and care and keeping excellent records of progress. If there are any concerns, they’re referred, until the age of five.
