26 Aug 2011

Coroner scathing about child abuse in NZ

5:39 am on 26 August 2011

A coroner has given a scathing assessment of child abuse in New Zealand in findings about the murder of three-year-old Nia Glassie.

The girl was spun in a tumble drier and on a washing line until she fell off and was also dropped on her head, inflicting fatal brain injuries in August 2007. The child later died at Auckland's Starship hospital.

Five people were jailed over the girl's death, including brothers Wiremu and Michael Curtis who were convicted of murder and must spend at least 17½ years in prison.

The girl's mother, Lisa Kuka, was jailed for nine years for manslaughter for failing to seek medical help or protect her daughter from violence.

A cousin of Nia's, Michael Pearson, was jailed for three years on a charge of wilful ill-treatment, while a woman, Oriwa Kemp, was jailed for three years and four months for assault and wilful ill-treatment.

In his findings issued on Thursday, Rotorua Coroner Wallace Bain says violence protection for young children has been almost non-existent and it is sickening that it takes such a case to act as a final wake-up call.

Dr Bain is recommending state registration and monitoring of all newborns until the age of five and compulsory oversight of single parents who are beneficiaries.

He says what he terms the "good old days" of regular Plunket nurse visits for every child must urgently return and government agencies must get better at information sharing.

Dr Bain described the injuries that Nia Glassie received as horrific and recommended that the Government take urgent steps to ensure witnesses of child abuse report it immediately, or face significant penalties for failing to do so.

He also called for mandatory reporting of risk factors, absences, health and abuse concerns by early childhood carers and schools.

Dr Bain says the evidence makes it crystal clear that children are being born in circumstances where their immediate caregivers are unable to keep them safe.

However, Plunket says it cannot be solely relied on to keep children safe from abuse. National clinical adviser Alison Hussey says although the organisation sees 90% of newborn babies, a broader responsibility within the community also exists to keep children safe.

Inquest doctor says more help needed

A doctor who gave evidence at the inquest agrees more help must be given to at-risk parents.

Johan Morreau has been working as a paediatrician in Rotorua for 27 years and says what happened to Nia Glassie did not come as a complete surprise.

Dr Morreau told Checkpoint at least 15% of children are being born to families with significant parenting related issues.

He said the health sector and community have been watching an increasing proportion of children coming through their systems with significant behavioural or mental health issues over recent years and their response has been inadequate.

Introducing compulsory home visits to parents would help - but more resources would be needed, he said.

Changes made, says minister

The Government says it has already introduced many of the measures to protect children recommended in Coroner Wallace Bain's report.

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett says Nia Glassie will forever be remembered for the horrible way she died, but the lessons learned may make New Zealand safer for children.

Ms Bennett says the Government has already moved to establish closer co-operation between social workers, police and doctors to make sure an abused child is safe when they leave hospital.

Child, Youth and Family social workers are also being placed in hospitals throughout the country.