CYF cuts ties with agency in death case

Child Youth and Family will no longer refer any of its youth to a Government-funded social agency that breached protocols by not immediately reporting the disappearance of a South Auckland boy in its care who was later found dead.

The Otara 13-year-old, Otis Auelua, had left a camp at Matauri Bay in Northland on December 9 but the agency in charge, Pacific World, took four days to report his absence to police.

His body was found in the sea last week and police said it appeared he had fallen from cliffs near the Rainbow Warrior Memorial.

CYF spokeswoman Jenny Alexander said yesterday that it would no longer refer any youth in its care to Pacific World, based in South Auckland, as it had not followed strict procedures.

"They should have informed both us and the police. They didn't do that."

Pacific World receives financial support from the Youth Development Fund, administered by Internal Affairs, to address suicide risk factors with Pacific Island youth.

Ms Alexander said CYF needed to go back to look at what procedures Pacific World had and why they were not followed.

"Part of being a provider is you have to meet extensive criteria."

CYF would also help with police and coroner inquiries, she said.

Internal Affairs spokesman Colin Feslier said that as a funder of Pacific World, the department was gathering information on the agency to provide for the inquiries. Mr Feslier said Pacific World had been an active group for a number of years and there had been no previous concerns.

Senior Sergeant Mike Pannett of Kerikeri said yesterday he expected the inquiry to take weeks as many people needed to be interviewed, including those attending the camp and the boy's family.

Mr Pannett said the results would be presented at a coroner's hearing which he did not expect until at least February or March.

The Commissioner for Children, Cindy Kiro, said she would not comment until she had heard from CYF on the outcome of its investigations.

Otis' aunt, Phyllis Wynyard, told the Herald last week that the boy's mother was not happy for him to go away as he had a court appearance, but Pacific World had picked him up and left a note on the door.

National Party social welfare spokeswoman Katherine Rich said if that were true it was outrageous.

Ms Rich also found it odd Pacific World had taken so long to report the boy as missing and criticised it for not presenting an explanation publicly. "It is disturbing on so many levels ... saying nothing just makes people's concerns grow."

Pacific World has not returned calls from the Herald.