A counsellor working with victims sexually abused by a CYF caregiver says guilty verdicts were a relief for whanau but challenging times still lay ahead.
A jury found Taite Hemi Kupa, 57, guilty in the High Court at Whangarei on 21 of 23 charges after two days of deliberation.
Kupa was charged with nine counts of assaulting a child under 14, one of assaulting a female, three of raping a child under 16, nine of unlawful sexual connection with a child under 16, and one of attempted rape of a child under 16.
Not guilty verdicts were returned on Thursday on two charges of sexual violation by unlawful connection.
Te Waka Whaanui director Charles Hohaia, also a counsellor, said the families welcomed the guilty verdicts but questions were being asked about how the abuse could have happened to youth in CYF care.