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Outrage is growing in Rotorua over the alleged abuse of two local children.
A protest was held outside the district court yesterday as four of five people accused of assaulting 3-year-old Nia Glassie appeared in the dock.
Rotorua Mayor Kevin Winters plans to hold an urgent meeting tomorrow to discuss the problem of child abuse with welfare agencies.
Local police have also voiced their concern, saying abuse of children appears to be a growing problem.
Nia remained in Auckland's Starship hospital last night after allegedly suffering months of abuse, culminating in her being hung on a clothes line and spun in a tumble dryer. She was initially in a coma, but police say she has been taken off her ventilator.
A 12-week-old baby boy from Rotorua is also in the Starship with non-accidental head injuries and his condition was described as stable. His injuries are not life-threatening, but police are investigating.
More than 60 people packed the public gallery of the court's largest courtroom to see the four accused - Nia's cousin Michael Paul Pearson, 19; her stepfather's father, William Curtis, 48; William's son Michael William Curtis, 21; and Michael Curtis' partner, Oriwa Terrina Kemp, 17.
The four entered no plea and were remanded in custody until August 8 for a bail hearing.
The fifth accused, Nia's stepfather, Wiremu Curtis, 17, is due in the district court on Monday.
Kemp cried throughout the proceedings, while William Curtis, who faces the most serious charge of abusing Nia between March and July, attempted to placate her. Michael Curtis had a black eye.
Police and about 20 media representatives were also present. A hearing to determine applications to film and photograph the defendants will be held today.
Judge James Weir warned the public that anyone who disrupted the proceedings would be removed and possibly charged with contempt of court.
"There's a significant degree of public interest in this case," he said. "It's most important that this judicial process proceeds fairly without any interruption."
Feelings ran high outside the court.
Two protesters held placards. One said: "Straight 2 jail no parole."
* A Curtis whanau spokesman, Toby Curtis, said in a statement last night that the family deplored the abuse of Nia Glassie.
"We the Curtis whanau, of William, Michael and Wiremu, want to share our abhorrence at the abuse of Nia Glassie.
"The revelations that members of our whanau have been charged has left us ashamed and angry.
"Our hearts go out to Nia and her whanau.
"We will actively assist the police with their inquiries.
"Our whanau want to take responsibility and will put in place processes to reduce the likelihood of this from ever happening again.
"While we are not the first whanau to have to come to terms with such a horrific act, we certainly want to ensure that no Curtis is ever involved in any level of child abuse in the future."
