CYF defends interviewing Kahui's partner during labour

Chris Kahui and his fiancee Marcia Ngapera at their home in December last year. Photo / Herald on Sunday

Hospital staff concerns ahead of the birth of the daughter of Chris Kahui led to Child, Youth and Family interviewing his partner during labour, the department said today.

Mr Kahui, 24, cleared last year of murdering of his infant twin sons, said last night that he and fiancee Marcia Ngapera, 27, were treated like criminals during the birth of their daughter.

Two CYF staff interviewed them in the birthing room while Ms Ngapera was suffering labour pains, he told 20/20.

Mr Kahui said he was not permitted to see his new daughter, Carla Haylee Kahui Ngapera, without supervision from a CYF-approved supervisor.

He said CYF had threatened to take away the four-month-old if he saw her without a supervisor present.

CYF deputy chief executive Ray Smith said today Mr Kahui and Ms Ngapera agreed to a safety plan for their daughter, including a requirement that all contact between father and daughter be supervised by a person approved by the department.

"In this case, the supervisors are family members who we believe are protective and understand the possible risks. They are not CYF Family staff."

The department was notified by staff at Auckland Hospital of concerns for the wellbeing of the baby about to be born, Mr Smith said.

"We met with medical professionals, including specialist paediatrician Dr Patrick Kelly, to discuss their concerns and established that there were no medical reasons why we should not discuss the safety of the baby with Ms Ngapera at that time...

"While we would not normally interview a woman when she was in early labour, this is a couple who had not been truthful with us in the past.

"Our paramount concerns were the safety of this newborn baby, and those concerns outweighed the desires of the parents."

He said CYF continued to work closely with the family and longer term arrangements regarding the baby's safety were before the courts.

Mr Kahui's sons Chris and Cru were three-months-old when they died of brain injuries in Auckland's Starship Hospital in June 2006.

Mr Kahui eventually faced trial for their murders but it took only minutes for a jury to acquit him in May last year after a protracted trial.

- NZPA