KEY POINTS:
Child Youth and Family is standing by its decision to place two young girls in the care of their father, who has convictions for sex and violence offences.
The girls were placed with their Timaru father seven weeks ago, but their mother went to police last week claiming the man had been hitting one of them.
The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had 36 convictions, including 14 for peeping, two for indecent assault and five for assault, the Press newspaper in Christchurch reported yesterday.
Both girls were taken from their mother's care in 2004 because her son had been misbehaving and CYF said her supervision of the boy was lacking.
The mother told the Press she struggled to understand how CYF would not allow her former partner to have even supervised visits in 2003 but now considered him fit to have the girls in his care after having nothing to do with them for seven years.
"I just want my girls out of there to somewhere they're safe. This is not about a custody battle or revenge. CYF has got to take this seriously."
She said her former partner had beaten her boys, so she acted immediately when her daughters sent a text message saying he had been hitting the younger child.
She picked them up from Timaru, took them to a doctor and then to police.
She said police told her she had done the right thing and that the girls should never have been placed with their father.
However, CYF boss Ray Smith said yesterday that the mother had not given a full picture of the family dynamics. "We are satisfied that the children are safe and well cared for by their father."
Mr Smith said the family had an "extensive history" with the agency and a "very troubled past". CYF was still involved in supporting and strengthening them.
"The girls' father has worked extremely hard to turn his life around since his last conviction six years ago. Both he and his long-term partner have demonstrated their commitment to making a loving home for his children."
Mr Smith said CYF gave "careful consideration" to his previous offending, "however this is a father who has done everything asked of him in order to prove himself a capable, responsible parent".
He said the man had completed a range of rehabilitative programmes and therapy and had "ongoing support" in the community.
There was no evidence to support the girls' mother's allegations to police. "The girls' school reports that they are happy and well, and the GP told us there was no evidence of bruising or maltreatment that would support the mother's allegations. The girls themselves have told us they want to stay with their dad."
Mr Smith said it was "vital" that CYF acknowledged that people were able to change, "able to become the kind of parent a child deserves".
He added: "If we do not, then we lose all hope that families can be reunited."
CYF did not want the only option for children to be a "permanent placement in the care of strangers".
- NZPA
