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September 22, 2023 at 1:25 PM

The Spinoff: Can digital communication be useful for victims of sexual abuse?

Is the recordable and trackable digital world through which we communicate useful for holding sexual abusers to account? In short, not really.

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Stuff: 'I want to know when I can be back with my mum,' youth asks investigators of damning OT review 

A review into Oranga Tamariki’s residences has warned that violence could increase if nothing is changed in the facilities charged with caring for vulnerable rangatahi.

In June, it was announced that former police commissioner Mike Bush would undertake the review following allegations of sexual misconduct by Oranga Tamariki staff.

According to OT, since June 19 there have been 46 complaints or allegations involving staff potentially causing harm to young people in state care.

On Thursday, Bush’s review into OT’s secure residence was released – painting a picture of a system broken in many places.

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Newshub: Calls for 'urgent' change after 22 Oranga Tamariki staff stood down for inappropriate behaviour

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NZ Herald: ACC cuts funding for We Can Keep Safe programme protecting preschoolers from sexual abuse

A safety programme for preschoolers that has run for 28 years and aims to reduce New Zealand’s appalling sexual abuse rates is in peril, after ACC ended its funding.

The We Can Keep Safe programme has educated more than 17,000 children aged 3-5, as well as their parents and caregivers.

Jude Bishop uses her puppet Toby to teach children in an age-appropriate way about touching rules, body ownership, and how to say “stop” if they don’t like something.

The programme is run by the HELP Auckland charity for free/koha in early childhood centres.

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Stuff: Uncle sentenced to life imprisonment for murdering 10-month-old baby Chance

The killing of baby Chance Kamakana O Ke Akua Aipolani-Nielson​ by his uncle has ripped a family apart as he continues to deny causing the catastrophic injuries.

Boston Wilson, Chance’s uncle, eventually admitted shaking the 10-month-old, but has shown no remorse, the High Court at Auckland heard on Thursday.

Wilson, 23, was found guilty of murder and was sentenced to life imprisonment by Justice Christine Gordon.

He will have to spend at least 15 years behind bars before he is eligible to apply for parole.

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Newshub: Surge in demand for counselling services in schools as mental health issues become more complex

Demand for counselling services in schools continues to soar as mental health issues become more complex.

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NZ Herald: Crime: Latest Justice Ministry data show spike in serious and violent offences this year

There has been a 10 per cent increase in the number of people convicted of a serious crime and a similar rise in the number of those convicted of a violent crime in the past year.

And while there isn’t much difference in the use of prison sentences for serious or violent offences compared to last year, there’s been a significant jump in the use of community sentences compared with 10 years ago.

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NZ Herald: Oranga Tamariki review: Nearly two dozen residence staff removed and three charged since issues raised in June

Oranga Tamariki has revealed nearly two dozen staff have been removed from children’s residences and three have been charged by police, as a wide-ranging review shows the need for significant improvements in the homes.

The rapid review into Oranga Tamariki’s Youth Justice and Care and Protection residences was announced in June 2023 after serious allegations involving staff acting inappropriately.

It found changes such as current trends toward more serious youth offending and older residents, were happening faster than the agency could respond and adapt to.

Those pressures meant performance improvement in the operations of residences was now urgent, it said.

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1 News: Labour clarifies consent law proposals won't shift burden of proof

Labour has clarified its plan to change consent laws to better protect survivors of sexual assault would not shift the burden of proof to defendants, after a headline shared on the party's social media platforms caused confusion.

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Stuff: Killer who raped, murdered ex-girlfriend didn't have to disclose new relationships

A killer released on parole after raping and murdering his former girlfriend did not legally have to disclose any new relationships he formed with women, a coroner has heard.

Paul Pounamu Tainui, born Paul Russell Wilson, was on parole for the 1994 murder of his ex-girlfriend, 21-year-old Kimberley Schroder, when he raped and murdered 27-year-old Nicole Marie Tuxford at her home.

He had been stopped for drink-driving at a police checkpoint earlier in the evening, was let go, then took a taxi to Tuxford’s home and killed her.

Schroder's father, Gary James Schroder, was “inconsolable” when he found out Tainui had killed again, and died in a suspected suicide three days later on April 10, 2018.

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