At Twitter:
James endured four years of life — until he was stomped to death. All preventable, writes Jarrod Gilbert https://t.co/8lMQ2UBuz3
— nzherald (@nzherald) March 27, 2017
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New Zealanders are more likely to be homicide victims in their first tender years than at any other time in their lives.
### NZ Herald 5:00 AM Tue, 28 Mar 2017
Jarrod Gilbert: We really must stop this cycle of child abuse
By Dr Jarrod Gilbert
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. Little bodies lying there limp with little hands and little fingers, covered in scratches and an array of bruises some dark black and some fading, looking as vulnerable dead as they were when they were alive. James Whakaruru’s misery ended when he was killed in 1999. He had endured four years of life and that was all he could take. He was hit with a small hammer, a jug cord and a vacuum cleaner hose. During one beating his mind was so confused he stared blankly ahead. His tormentor responded by poking him in the eyes. It was a stomping that eventually switched out his little light. It was a case that even the Mongrel Mob condemned, calling the cruelty “amongst the lowest of any act”.
Read more
• Dr Jarrod Gilbert is a sociologist at the University of Canterbury and the lead researcher at Independent Research Solutions. He is the author of Patched: The history of gangs in New Zealand and is currently writing a book on murder.
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Related Post and Comments:
20.12.15 NZ Police family violence campaign #WalkAway
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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr
This post is offered in the public interest.
What if? Dunedin... 
Calls for a Royal Commission of inquiry into historic child abuse have been rife these last weeks, inflaming social media and mainstream media (MSM) around New Zealand.
Bless their hearts, Lauda Finem, based offshore, banged out a post at their website yesterday that easily sums up the New Zealand ‘scene’. This is a must read.
LF’s introductory comments are provided here, with excerpts of relevance to Dunedin.
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March 30, 2017 1:14 am • Lauda Finem
Why Bill English & Nasty Nats find Child Abuse Royal Commissions Terrifying
For the past month or so Kiwi newspapers and other media outlets have been slowly publishing stories relating to the growing chorus of voices calling for a Royal Commission into historic child abuse.
The latest trigger seems to have been an open letter calling for the same, although, in our view, a very narrow, much less desirable version of the ‘Royal Commission Into The Institutional Responses to Historic Child Sexual Abuse’ that our Australian PM Julia Gillard was forced to initiate in 2013; which is only now beginning to release various stats and reports on some of the findings and the evidence that has been heard.
Bill English, the halfwit that National decided to replace John Key with, has of course avoided mentioning the apparent success of the Australian commission, noting only that it might come in handy for New Zealand’s state sector when it comes to lessons that might be learned.
[photo caption] Just how much sway has Police Commissioner Mike Bush had on a government that is clearly terrified of any inquiry
English is in fact completely out of touch with reality in almost everything he has said publicly on the subject; going so far as to claim that there is nothing to be gained or learned by New Zealand establishing a similar inquiry.
This is despite the success of the Australian model and the fact that both Ireland and the UK have also conducted national inquiries.
Not only is the National party Government determined NOT to hold such an inquiry, they are also, seemingly, equally determined not to even entertain the notion that the victims of historic child abuse, sexual, physical and emotional deserve an unreserved apology from the crown. They also deserve to see, where at all possible, their abusers convicted and serving prison sentences.
This fact alone should have every right thinking New Zealander appalled. More especially given the likely scale of the criminal offending, if the Australian Royal Commissions findings are anything to go by; there being absolutely no reason to believe that New Zealand’s statistics would be any different to those of Australia.
In fact, if one is to take the figures recently released by the Australian Commission, and then compare them with the suggested 1100 children that the Kiwis say have been sexually abused whilst in care historically, clearly, New Zealand has had a far more significant problem than Australia per capita.
In fact, New Zealand’s problem does not seem to have abated, the country is still in the grip of almost daily reports of contemporary offending; the only conclusion being that the problem is not only systemic but there may be continuing cultural or institutional causes for its existence.
Read more at http://www.laudafinem.org/2017/03/30/why-bill-english-nasty-nats-find-child-abuse-royal-commissions-terrifying/
● To view the open letter and petition go to http://www.neveragain.co.nz/
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[excerpts – Lauda Finem]
The first thing that has to be said is that those who have only just arrived at this cause are only calling for an inquiry into children in State care. This is significantly less than the Australian model which has left absolutely no rock un-turned in its pursuit of perpetrators, cover-ups and the truth.
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The beauty of the Australian model is that it has captured everything, the words “Institutional Response” powerful in who it captured. Cardinals, Bishops, Priests, Religious orders, schools, Teachers; state and private, police, social workers, the scope has been enormous….and rewarding, if the sheer volume of the Commissions results are anything to go by.
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There is some anecdotal evidence that the New Zealand police have in fact been one of the primary reasons for the National Party Government, to date, being loathed to even consider a Royal Commission. First and foremost the absence of the religious organisations stands out like balls on a short haired dog. Second, the absence of the New Zealand police.
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Does Bill English seriously believe that New Zealand Govt agencies, including the country’s systemically corrupt police force will learn anything from the published results of the Australian Royal Commission? Does any New Zealand politician seriously believe that for one minute? If they do then they should be pointed in the direction of a clinical psychologist for evaluation and treatment.
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For both the New Zealand police and the country’s government it’s always been about harm minimisation, not for the unfortunate victims you understand, but rather for themselves.
Until recently, Police Association president for life, Greg O’Connor, was living breathing evidence that the New Zealand police force had gained absolutely nothing from either of the two Australian State crackdowns on police corruption. In fact, many of the gang rapes committed by New Zealand police remained concealed for years after both of those inquiries, some that we are aware of, indeed probably many more, remaining outside the public’s knowledge, the Police Commissioner and Prime Ministers dirty little secret.
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Just how many of these men and woman suffered serious abuse at the hands of paedophiles and psychopaths working for New Zealand Govt agencies, including its police force?
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In short, Bill English knows that once the scale of historic sexual physical and emotional harm to Kiwi children is known to the public the government will no longer be in control of the inquiry. Growing public anger will inevitably ensure that any Royal Commission gets what it needs, whether initially proposed and sanctioned or not, to aid in the job of ascertaining the enormous scale of the problem in New Zealand.
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Evidence of these police and Government cover-ups is to be found here on Lauda Finem, it’s also to be found in a variety other places, libraries and online.
The work of Kiwi investigative journo Ian Wishart, in particular a special investigation Wishart conducted over a two year period, culminating in his 2007 accusations of New Zealand Police involvement in organised child sexual exploitation rings in both Chistchurch and Dunedin. Accusations that were never properly investigated by police or the IPCA for quite obvious reasons.
Police behaviour that was at the time of the offending known to John Jamieson, then Christchurch District Commander and subsequently, as Commissioner of police (1984 – 1994), a man who the Catholic Church, following Jamieson’s brief and unremarkable political career, hired with the obvious intention of insuring that all accusations of historic child sexual abuse were mustered smoothly out the back door, much to the Arch Bishops benefit.
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Prior to joining the Catholic Church John Jamieson, as Commissioner of Police, himself assisted in concealing, from the media and the public, allegations of rape, violence and corruption against serving police officers, one of whom escaped to South Africa with the aid of at least nine other serving Gisborne police officers.
In short, Bill English, without a shadow of a doubt, is fully cognisant of the scale of the historic problem in New Zealand, in particular the police involvement. He also likely knows that the scale of Historic child abuse in New Zealand is far greater than what has historically occurred in Australia, if only on a per capita basis.
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New Zealand police have in the past used all sorts of skulduggery in efforts to thwart official inquiries into their unlawful practices and conduct, including sexual and physical abuses.
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[photo caption] Two dirty cops: ex New Zealand police commissioners John Jamieson (L) and Howard Broad (R) Jamieson was certainly, without a shred of doubt, a master of the dark art of police corruption and cover-up
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Lauda Finem have in the past written extensively on the existence of these practices and a secret police network, comprising ex police, some turned corrupt private investigators and others turned corrupt politicians, from local bodies right up to New Zealand’s Parliament.
See: New Zealand Police, ODESSA and just how they look after their own
See: New Zealand’s most powerful political force is?
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We would also recommend that readers check out Ian Wishart’s article “To Serve and Protect”, also published in 2007, it’s an eye opener and gives readers some idea of what could be investigated had the New Zealand Government followed an identical path to that of the Australian Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.
See: Ex police commissioner Howard Broad to head CYF inquiry
Like ex Commissioner Jamieson, Police Commissioner Howard Broad was implicated by Wishart in sordid events which had been exposed by ex Christchurch cop turned whistle-blower and author Tom Lewis.
[ends]
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Quick references:
August 14, 2007
Ian Wishart: To Serve & Protect: June 07
http://www.investigatemagazine.co.nz/Investigate/13956/to-serve-protect-june-07/
Tom Lewis: Coverups & Copouts (Hodder Moa Beckett, 20 March 1998)
The book written by ex senior police officer Tom Lewis traverses the seedy side of Dunedin during the eighties, including the infamous ‘Dunedin Sex Ring’ case.
[promo]
“There have been police enquiries in New Zealand and there has even been the odd expose but there has never been a book like Tom Lewis’ COVERUPS AND COPOUTS. His story will shock the average New Zealander and shake the New Zealand police to the very core. Not only does the former detective sergeant describe in methodical detail some of the worst coverups in NZ police history, but he punctuates his story in the most compelling fashion. Tom Lewis actually dares to name names. From commissioners to constables, the truncheon isn’t spared. This book will not have won Tom Lewis any friends in the New Zealand Police, but it will finally lay bare to New Zealanders what most had never thought possible of our Police:
* Christopher John Lewis – the truth behind the royal assassination attempt
* Ron Jorgensen – alive and well – and living in Australia
* Dunedin sex ring – why the police copped out
and much more.”
Tom Lewis’ Coverups & Copouts is hard to find now, except second-hand. A copy recently sold on Trade Me (reserve $5) via just one bid. When the book was first published, NZ Police, in damage control, bought up as many copies as they could – they’ve also managed to ‘lose’ or decimate most public library lending copies.
As at 31.7.13, Dunedin Public Libraries had 4 copies: 2 lending copies and 2 read-only copies in the McNab Collection. Today, Dunedin Public has 3 copies: 1 lending copy and 2 read-only copies.
Like many Dunedinites, whatifdunedin retains a personal reading copy.
More on police officer Tom Lewis and the Dunedin Sex Ring:
http://www.presscouncil.org.nz/display_ruling.php?case_number=2015
Case Number: 2015 Tom and Teresa Lewis Against Otago Daily Times | Press Council Meeting December 2007
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Posts by the New Zealand Police Conduct Association (NZPCA):
July 27, 2014
INVESTIGATEMAGAZINE.TV publish allegations
http://nzpca.co.nz/investigatemagazine-tv-publish-allegations/
July 27, 2014
Tom Lewis
https://nzpca.co.nz/tom-lewis/
July 27, 2014
“Cover ups and Cop outs” the book
https://nzpca.co.nz/cover-ups-and-cop-outs-the-book/
August 1, 2014
Police respond to allegations and possible publication
https://nzpca.co.nz/police-respond-to-allegations-and-possible-publication/
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Other references:
http://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2007/04/the_bazley_report.html
http://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2007/05/pca_refuses_to_investigate_dunedin_police_claims.html
At Twitter:
[pinned Tweet]
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Last updated 17:20, May 16 2017
Stuff: Christchurch Inspector Paul Fremaux stood down over sexual harassment allegations
By Sam Sherwood
A long-serving senior police officer has been stood down over allegations he sexually harassed several staff. Stuff understands police have received complaints from at least five women about Christchurch Inspector Paul Fremaux. One of the complainants is understood to be the daughter of a high ranking officer. The allegations relate to verbal harassment. Acting Canterbury District Commander Superintendent Lane Todd confirmed an employment investigation was under way. “A police officer has been stood down whilst the investigation is under way and, due to privacy, we will not be naming the officer or the specifics of the allegations other than to reiterate that it’s an employment investigation.” […] Fremaux declined to comment when approached at his home on Tuesday. Cont/
Other stories:
* Woman claims senior Northland police officer harassed and abused her for years
* 10 years on: Louise Nicholas welcomes final Commission of Inquiry report response
* Whangarei woman speaks out over explicit texts, allegedly from police officer
* Top cop Mark Gutry quits ahead of hearing
Related Post and Comments:
19.7.17 God bless the ditch
[State care] Commentators ask if this is just a brand change….
Fri, 31 Mar 2017
ODT: Children in care highest since 2014
The number of children in Child, Youth and Family care in the South is at its highest level for more than two years. The latest statistics released by CYF, this week, showed 312 children were in the custody of the department in Otago and Southland at the end of last year. It was the highest level since June 2014 and more than 7% up on the number in care at the end of 2015. Cont/
The claim:
“The Ministry of Vulnerable Children or Oranga Tamariki, puts children’s safety first.”
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### radionz.co.nz Fri, 31 Mar 2017 at 12:28pm
RNZ News
Care system for New Zealand’s at-risk children set for complete overhaul
Source: 1 NEWS
The government department charged with looking out for New Zealand’s children is getting a new name and complete overhaul. Child Youth and Family will cease to be, following the launch of the new Ministry for Vulnerable Children, today. Also known as Oranga Tamariki, it is the biggest transformation of the agency in nearly three decades. There will be a complete overhaul of the care system, and be focused on prevention and intervention, the government says. There are around 30,000 cases of child abuse reported each year, as well as the deaths of young children who were known to CYF. The new ministry was recommended by an independent expert advisory panel appointed by the government. “The Ministry for Vulnerable Children, Oranga Tamariki is a single point of accountability for children at risk and will focus on five core services – prevention, intensive intervention, care support, youth justice and support to transition into adulthood,” Social Development Minister Anne Tolley said.
RNZ Link
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### NZ Herald 18 minutes ago
Explainer: Oranga Tamariki, the Ministry for Vulnerable Children
By Chris Bramwell, Deputy Political Editor
After almost 30 years, the beleaguered Child Youth and Family is today folded into Oranga Tamariki, the new Ministry for Vulnerable Children. Child Youth and Family has been under review almost continuously since its inception in 1989 and has been restructured 14 times – but this latest overhaul of child services is the biggest yet. The creation of the new ministry has been years in the making. It follows an expert advisory panel review. The panel’s report, which was completed in December 2015, found the system was not meeting the needs of vulnerable children and young people, was fragmented and lacked accountability. It proposed a new operating model that placed the child at its centre and that took a long-term view of their outcomes and where the government should invest. Social Development Minister Anne Tolley announced the creation of the new ministry in August last year.
Read more
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Ministry of Social Development Link
The establishment of Ministry for Vulnerable Children, Oranga Tamariki as a new stand-alone ministry is one of the key milestones of the IIC programme.
The creation of the new Ministry:
● signals a ‘whole of sector’, child-centred approach which will transform the way we work with vulnerable children and young people. It will act in partnership with the wider social sector, reinforcing the fact that it can only achieve outcomes through others, rather than as a primary direct delivery agency.
● establishes the new Ministry as a single point of accountability for ensuring vulnerable children and their families and whānau get the services they need. This will ensure that government agencies work together to provide coherent and complete services to these children, young people and their families.
● will take a broader view which will include children and young people who are at significant risk of harm now or into the future.
The Ministry for Vulnerable Children, Oranga Tamariki incorporates Child, Youth and Family, some MSD and Community Investment functions, and the Children’s Action Plan Directorate, including Children’s Teams, ViKI and the Vulnerable Children’s Hub.
Find out more about the establishment of the new Ministry, including the Final Report of the Expert Panel on Modernising Child Youth and Family
Garrick Tremain – 1 April 2017
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At Twitter:
The coverups continue. Especially at Dunedin, from the 1980s in particular. Given the reasonable and correct prompts available, with the help of Louise Nicholas and her colleagues, some people will want to testify to ensure cleanup and prosecutions happen. It’s never too late to deal to ‘the named’, while they’re still breathing.
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Thu, 6 Apr 2017
ODT Editorial: Systemic change possible
OPINION It would once have been unthinkable: that sexual abuse survivors’ advocate Louise Nicholas would be both praising police and working alongside them. But, decades after Mrs Nicholas alleged she was raped and sexually assaulted by police officers in the 1980s, and the initial investigation mishandled, the climate in the country’s law enforcement ranks could not be more different. It has been a long, tortuous and tortured road, stretching back to the first alleged rape in 1984 when Mrs Nicholas was 13, and her first complaint to police in 1993. Since then there has been constant public, media and legal scrutiny and three high-profile trials (the first two were ruled mistrials). […] A Commission of Inquiry into Police Conduct was announced in 2004 by then prime minister Helen Clark. It was headed by Dame Margaret Bazley, whose 2007 report identified systemic and behavioural problems which contributed to major failings in the way police handled sexual assault cases. Her report contained 60 recommendations for change, 47 of which were police-specific, and the rest for what would become the Independent Police Conduct Authority and the Government. Cont/
Garrick Tremain – 4 Apr 2017
Fri, 21 Jul 2017
Doctor jailed for ‘extreme’ child porn worked at Dunedin Hospital
A senior children’s doctor jailed in England for making and sharing “extreme” child pornography worked as a paediatrician in three New Zealand hospitals, including Dunedin Hospital and Southland Hospital. Jonathan James Walsh (47) was sentenced to three years’ prison in March after police found 27 movies showing the most serious abuse of children, including a 12-month-old baby. […] The Medical Council of New Zealand confirmed it was approached by Devon and Cornwall Police in July last year, after Walsh was charged. A medical council spokesman said Walsh worked as a paediatric registrar at Southland Hospital, then Dunedin Hospital, for 12 months each between 1996 and 1998. He returned to the United Kingdom to complete his training in paediatrics, before returning to New Zealand as a specialist in August 2011. On his return, Walsh worked at Palmerston North Hospital for 12 months before returning to England.
Walsh was last week struck off as a registered doctor by the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service, at a hearing where his conduct was described as “deplorable”. “He was dealing with vulnerable children and was in a position of considerable trust. The tribunal has noted the extreme nature of the abuse of the children depicted in the images.”
The children in the films were between 12 months and 14 years old.