Guest View: More must be done for our at-risk children

I HAD to go to Auckland last week for medical treatment and was privileged to meet a beautiful Maori girl named Jay who is nearly 3 years old .
Jay was staying with her mother and friends at a motel in Auckland which was raided by police who found the drug P was being manufactured there.
Child Youth and Family were called to look after Jay, who at 9.30pm was delivered to the home where we were staying with friends who run a safe house for such children.
We met a little girl with burning red cheeks and saucer-sized eyes who seemed high. She was well- spoken and her manners were impeccable.
Jay was scared and kept crying for her mummy, but after a few hours of comforting her, she finally went to sleep. Next morning she wasn't interested in food, but when breakfast was set up like a children's party she joined the other children in drinking and eating.
Later in the day Jay seemed to come down from the high. She got very tearful and was constantly crying for her mum. Two CYF staff took her away for a medical check and when she returned she kept coming to me for cuddles before she fell asleep.
On the third morning Jay started playing and mixing with the other children at the safe house, including our daughter.
I had to go to a specialist appointment and Jay told me hurry back as she would miss me.
Later in the afternoon two CYF staff arrived to take Jay to her grandmother's place down the country. When leaving, Jay gave everyone a big hug and a kiss and she was blowing kisses as they drove off .
I feel very privileged to have met Jay. As a father and grandfather, I am grateful none of my children or grandchildren have ever had to live through such a traumatic experience. After being with Jay and seeing the despair some children are faced with, I don't mind admitting I have shed a few tears.
Children like Jay should never need to go through such living hell. They didn't ask to be born or to be introduced to the drug P, and they are used as statistics for any Government of the day to throw around.
Northland retiring MP John Carter was critical of the wet bus tickets being handed out by judges to those involved with P. He was going to hold meetings throughout the North to get support for a law change, but he did nothing.
National Party leader John Key campaigned on tougher law and order policies once National won the last election.
But although police bust P labs regularly the courts give out wet bus tickets and those in Wellington just continue to look after their party mates and do nothing to protect the most vulnerable like Jay.
Thank God we have dedicated police who are trying to make changes. Thanks to the dedicated CYF staff who go out of the way to protect such children, and also to the people who open their homes to protect children like Jay.
My hope and prayer is no other child will need to go through such trauma because of failing MPs and failed legislation.