CYF probe demanded as baby battles for life

By STEPHEN COOK


Act wants an urgent independent investigation into Child, Youth and Family's handling of the case of a seven-week-old baby fighting for his life in Tauranga Hospital.

Claims of departmental incompetence have been levelled at CYF after claims in Parliament last week that the child's mother had a history of neglect toward two of her older children, now in foster care.

CYF Minister Ruth Dyson has vigorously defended her department, saying it "correctly assessed" the risks facing the baby, which last night was reported to be in a critical but stable condition in hospital.

Ms Dyson told Parliament last week the woman, who is now facing a charge of assaulting her baby, did not have a history of physical or sexual abuse toward her two older children. They had been removed from her care, she said, because of a "detrimental living environment".

Act's social services spokeswoman, Muriel Newman, said yesterday there were discrepancies between what Ms Dyson had told Parliament, and what Act had uncovered about the case from other sources such as police.

It was obvious that either CYF had misled the minister or the minister had misled Parliament, Ms Newman said. Answers could be found only through an urgent independent investigation, rather than an internal inquiry.