Tales of father's abuse stuns court

The tale of horrific abuse instigated by a man against his children has stunned a court room.

A court sat in shocked silence as three adult children spoke of the effect on their lives of rape and other abuse their father dished out to them while they were growing up.

That man, Dick Whakaaropai Rihari, 70, was sentenced in the Kaikohe District Court last week to six years, nine months jail for 15 historical crimes of rape, sexual assault and grievous bodily harm meted out to a daughter, son and stepdaughter.

Judge Duncan Harvey said that as the offences were historical, the penalty had to be consistent with the sentencing regime of that time. But, he said he wanted to give a "truly deterrent" sentence because, "This type of offending, both historically and in the present day, is sadly almost at epidemic proportions."

He said Rihari had pleaded guilty early into investigations, and had no previous criminal dealings, but he had wreaked indescribable devastation on his children's lives. "They were children, they did nothing wrong."

Most of the offending was in the 1970s and 1980s when the family lived in two New Zealand cities. Rihari has lived in Northland for many years, where he has been considered an upright citizen and contributor to the community.

The victims' impact statements spoke of having their innocence, self-esteem, rights and future well-being stolen by Rihari. The girls had been raped and all three had been sexually abused, one of them also subjected to grievous bodily harm.

The two women had chosen not to have children of their own because of their upbringing. One said she was scared of men; the other that she was afraid of passing on her parents' DNA.

One woman's statement spoke of her inability to protect her younger half-siblings, and how, in the 1970s, she felt unable to ask for help. She left home young, has bi-polar illness and, at 53, is still plagued by childhood fears she relives at times.

The other woman said that after her mother died Rihari "had full access to me". The abuse taught her terror, shame, self-loathing, injustice and rage.

At the age of 13 she had contemplated taking her father's life or her own. "My siblings and I were damned before we even had a start in life."

She said she hoped bringing her father to justice would help heal deep rifts within the family.

Looking at her father in the dock, she urged him to embrace treatment. "It's not too late for some good to come from this."

Rihari's son spoke of his troubled adulthood and many spells in institutions. As a boy he would deliberately steal or carry out minor crimes so he would be taken away from home by the authorities, he said.

During one beating binge his father had grabbed a crowbar and smashed it against the then-8-year-old boy's leg, breaking it.

"Today is about being set free," the son said. "My sisters and I have been in prison for 40 years."

The judge told Rihari's victims, "I admire the courage shown by you. I thank you for that."