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November 03, 2023 at 11:29 AM

Stuff: 57 kids in seven years: Our shocking child death toll

At least 50 children have been killed since Oranga Tamariki was created – and half of them had a record with the agency before they died.

The shocking statistics have been leaked to Stuff by someone close to the children’s ministry.

In August, we asked Oranga Tamariki how many children have been killed in recent years. The agency couldn’t say.

After that story was published, an anonymous person sent Stuff a white envelope. It contained an internal ministry document, identifying scores of children who had died – many as a result of abuse or neglect.

The data shows that since Oranga Tamariki was created in April 2017, there have been at least 57 child homicides. Some of the victims died as a result of beatings, traumatic brain injuries, asphyxiation or stabbings.

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RNZ: Criminal barrister on Baby Ru case

Three people were at home when Hutt valley toddler Ruthless-Empire was fatally injured according to police, so why more than a week on, hasn't anyone been charged?

The trio have been identified as persons of interest in the investigation, and are offering various degrees of co-operation.

The death of Ruthless-Empire Ahipene-Wall, also known as baby Ru, is being treated as a homicide after post-mortem results confirmed he died of blunt force trauma with several external injuries to his body.

Injuries that police say occurred up to 12 hours before he died.

Following the killings of baby twins Chris and Cru Kahui in 2006, the Crimes Act was amended making it an offence for anyone over the age of 18 living in the same household or closely connected to a family, to fail to act on child abuse they are aware of.

Jo Wickliffe is a criminal defence barrister and she speaks to Lisa Owen.

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1 News: 'Agencies must do better' - Chief Children's Commissioner

Chief Children's Commissioner Claire Achmad has put agencies on notice, saying they aren't providing the safety nets required for children across the country.

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Newshub: Oranga Tamariki reviewing what - if any - support Baby Ru and whānau were receiving at time he was killed

Oranga Tamariki is reviewing what - if any - support Ruthless-Empire and his whānau were receiving at the time he was killed and if interventions could have occurred.   

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RNZ: 'We have a right to be safe': Calls for compulsory consent education at uni

A sexual abuse support service is calling for compulsory consent education for first year university students as data reveals the extent of complaints.

Three hundred and thirty three sexual violence incidents on and off campus have been reported to universities around the motu over the past five years, according to figures released under the Official Information Act.

The HELP foundation said the figures demonstrated New Zealand's tertiary institutions needed a universal process to report sexual violence in a way which protected survivors.

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Waatea News: Davidson keen for anti-violent strategy to survive

Greens’ co-leader Marama Davison says she’s keen to sit down with whichever minister in the new Government becomes responsible for Te Aorerekura – the national strategy to eliminate family violence and sexual violence.

She says the 25-year strategy introduced during her time as minister is making progress and must be continued.

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Te Ao Māori News: Dr Claire Achmad appointed as chief children’s commissioner for Mana Mokopuna

Dr Claire Achmad has been appointed as the new Chief Children’s Commissioner leading Mana Mokopuna - the Children and Young People’s Commission, formerly the Office of the Children’s Commissioner.

She takes over the role from Judge Frances Eivers who will return to the bench after two years in the job.

Achmad has a PhD in international children’s rights law from the Netherlands, has experience working for international, Australian, and New Zealand child rights organisations, and has published worldwide on a variety of child rights-related topics.

She was chief executive of social service provider Te Pai Ora o Aotearoa most recently.

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Stuff: Police appeal for victims of historical sexual abuse at Auckland's King's College

Police are appealing for victims of historical sexual abuse at a prestigious Auckland school to come forward.

The allegations include complaints against a former teacher and rugby coach who was employed at King’s College in South Auckland between 1988 and 1994.

Detective Senior Sergeant Mal Hassall on Thursday said investigators have already spoken with several victims about historical sexual offending during their time at the school.

However, Hassall said police believe there are more victims who have not yet reported their concerns or experiences and are asking them to contact police. The police press release on Thursday did not identify the teacher at the centre of concerns.

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Otago Daily Times: Violence against women in Australia ‘a national crisis’

A recent spate of violent deaths has Australian politicians calling for better support for women and a national approach to tackling the scourge.

About 50 women have been killed in the country this year, five of them in the past 11 days.

The deaths spanned the nation, with women found dead in Perth, Bendigo, Canberra, Sydney, the Hunter region and Aldinga beach in South Australia.

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