Weekly Media Roundup

March 30, 2017 at 4:30 PM

CYF overhaul: Former foster care child Daryl Brougham speaks out

Child Youth and Family is getting the largest overhaul in decades. Tomorrow, the Ministry for Vulnerable Children, Oranga Tamariki is launched. Social issues reporter Sarah Harris explains what’s happening.

Jarrod Gilbert: We really must stop this cycle of child abuse

Often when I'm doing research I dance a silly jig when I gleefully unearth a gem of information hitherto unknown or long forgotten. In studying the violent deaths of kids that doesn't happen.

There was no dance of joy when I discovered New Zealanders are more likely to be homicide victims in their first tender years than at any other time in their lives. But nothing numbs you like the photographs of dead children.

Record numbers of children in the care of CYF as Govt prepares for new era in state care

A record number of children have been taken into state care in the last year - a sign of serious underfunding as Child, Youth and Family (CYF) transitions into the new Ministry for Vulnerable Children, say the Greens.

Figures released by CYF this week, show 5453 children were placed in the custody of the chief executive in the year to December 2016. It's a leap of more than 300 on the 5139 children that were taken out of their families the year prior.

'Now we will really see if they do care' - youth advocate

People should not dismiss the new ministry for the country's most at-risk children as just a rebrand of Child Youth and Family (CYF), a youth advocate says.

Oranga Tamariki, the Ministry for Vulnerable Children, launches today.

The complete overhaul of CYF and creation of the new minitsry has been years in the making and follows a comprehensive review by an expert advisory panel.

One day until launch and new CYF uncertain on staffing

One day before the launch of a new child protection agency, its top social worker cannot say how many more staff are needed.

Child Youth and Family (CYF) becomes Oranga Tamariki / Ministry for Vulnerable Children tomorrow.

The lack of resources has been highlighted in Mastertonwhere last week more social workers were sent after judges raised concerns a backlog of cases was putting families in danger.

Ihaka Stokes murder trial: Troy Taylor guilty of boy's murder

Troy Taylor, the de-facto stepfather of Christchurch infant Ihaka Stokes, has been found guilty of the boy's brutal murder.

Troy Kevin Taylor, 23, had denied murdering the 14-month-old boy during a two-week trial at the High Court in Christchurch.

Two sentenced after children beaten, starved and neglected while caregivers smoked meth

Warning: Some readers may find this article distressing

For almost 10 months, the five children were beaten, neglected, abused and starved until their teachers reported their black eyes and bruises to the police.

Some of the "hidings" were because the children - aged 8, 6, 5, 3, and 1-year-old - had eaten food, climbed a tree or used hair gel.

Families not turning up to dispute resolution

Radical changes to the Family Court to get warring couples into mediation appear to be faltering, with large numbers granted exemptions simply because they don't want to go.

The Family Dispute Resolution Service (FDR) was supposed to help estranged parents avoid the courtroom and reach agreement, with the help of a mediator, on things like custody arrangements and extra curricula activities.

But the Ministry of Justice has conceded fewer people than it expected are turning up, and lawyers, mediators and law lecturers agree large numbers are avoiding the service.

Fighting for a different future

Feature - As an older generation of gang members try to lead their families in a different direction, they face opposition from politicians and resistance from within their own ranks. Aaron Smale spoke to them about their aspirations and struggles.

The Pencilsword: No 'I' in sex

A thoughtful cartoon about rape culture, hegemonic masculinity and the important messages that we need to teach our teenage boys.

Judge hits back at CYF threat to take children

Child Youth and Family (CYF) threatened to take four children off a couple after they went to court to force the agency to help them.

And a Masterton Family Court judge has accused CYF of wanting to "wipe their hands" of the children in a bid to save money.

Man who broke girlfriend's finger with hammer has appeal dismissed

GRAPHIC CONTENT: A south Auckland man who tied up his teenage girlfriend, broke her finger and attempted to pull out her teeth has claimed he should not have been convicted because she consented to the abuse.

The man, who has name suppression and is referred to only as JS, appealed his sentence and conviction of one charge of wounding with intent to injure, one charge of disfiguring with intent to injure, and one charge of kidnapping.

Increasing number of charities creating duplication, donor fatigue

Duplicate charities competing for the same donor dollar are being encouraged to join forces to address increasing donor fatigue and cynicism.

Canterbury Medical Research Foundation chief executive Kate Russell has worked in the charity sector for the last 25 years and says New Zealand has always had a "very high" number of charities for its size.

What do many lone attackers have in common? Domestic violence

The reactions to Khalid Masood’s attack last week played out with script-like predictability: rightwing commentators tried desperately to blame the actions of this Kent native on immigration, while the media pored over whatever anecdotes they could find from neighbours and schoolmates. All The Day Today cliches were ticked off: he was “always polite”, he came from “a normal family”, he once “got drunk” as a teenager.

This kind of desperate profiling plays to people’s desire to believe we should be able to spot terrorists. But while rent-a-gobs flail around naming and shaming Kent and drunk teenagers, it is telling how rarely one feature common to many “lone wolf” attackers is called out: a history of domestic abuse.

Lizzie Marvelly: We have failed our ill-treated kids

It will be April Fool's Day when the new Ministry for Vulnerable Children gets under way.

An unfortunate coincidence that feels distinctly Freudian.

While the timing of the establishment of a new agency attempting to overcome our horrific record of child maltreatment as the Government continues to refuse to launch an inquiry into historic abuse of children in state care is certainly something of a joke, there's very little humour to be found in it.

Winston Peters a 'dangerous old man' - Sue Bradford

Winston Peters has been labelled a "dangerous old man" who's "really past his prime", after vowing to repeal the so-called anti-smacking law.

Sue Bradford, the former Green MP behind the law, told The AM Show on Monday she was "horrified" by his recent comments.

Jamie Te Hiko found guilty of partner's murder

A guilty verdict for a man who severely beat his partner, killing her, has brought little relief for her family.

"At the end of the day, he's still living," whanau spokesman Charlie Tepana said.

"Selena is not around anymore. She's not here with us."

It's a story about a service for women by women, so why are men dominating the discussion?

OPINION: As a young woman who lives in central Wellington and doesn't own a car, I can empathise with the two 19-year-olds who said taxi drivers refused them a ride home.

In this case, Ohaora Smith and Hope Broderick were trying to head home after a night out on Courtenay Place. They said about six drivers refused them the 1.7-kilometre ride to Nairn Street in Mt Cook at 2.30am. Smith said some of the drivers, from various companies, said it was because the fare – about $15 – would be too small.

Search:

Categories

Tags

Archive

2024

Weekly Media Roundup

March 30, 2017 at 4:30 PM

CYF overhaul: Former foster care child Daryl Brougham speaks out

Jarrod Gilbert: We really must stop this cycle of child abuse

Record numbers of children in the care of CYF as Govt prepares for new era in state care

'Now we will really see if they do care' - youth advocate

One day until launch and new CYF uncertain on staffing

Ihaka Stokes murder trial: Troy Taylor guilty of boy's murder

Two sentenced after children beaten, starved and neglected while caregivers smoked meth

Families not turning up to dispute resolution

Fighting for a different future

The Pencilsword: No 'I' in sex

Judge hits back at CYF threat to take children

Man who broke girlfriend's finger with hammer has appeal dismissed

Increasing number of charities creating duplication, donor fatigue

What do many lone attackers have in common? Domestic violence

Lizzie Marvelly: We have failed our ill-treated kids

Winston Peters a 'dangerous old man' - Sue Bradford

Jamie Te Hiko found guilty of partner's murder

It's a story about a service for women by women, so why are men dominating the discussion?