Govt questioned over abuse case

File photo / NZ Herald

Teachers need assurances that they will be taken seriously when they raise concerns about abused children, a teachers' union says.

The primary teachers' union New Zealand Education Institute (NZEI) said today it hoped the inquiry into a serious case of child abuse, announced yesterday by Social Development Minister Paula Bennett, would reveal the role the Government played in the way it was handled.

A nine-year-old West Auckland girl suffered extreme abuse despite 12 different agencies being involved with the family and her parents are facing 36 charges.

Ms Bennett confirmed yesterday the girl's mother wrote to Prime Minister John Key last year asking for help, and NZEI president Ian Leckie said today her teacher also sent a letter to Mr Key.

A spokeswoman for Ms Bennett confirmed the teacher's letter but said it was written after the abuse had been discovered.

Mr Leckie said he hoped the independent inquiry into the way welfare agencies handled the case would turn "an honest focus" on Mr Key's role and the Government's response.

Ms Bennett said yesterday the letter to Mr Key was referred to her and she had responded.

She said she couldn't discuss the letter because of the court action against the parents.

Mr Leckie said it was clear the girl's teacher had "real concerns and frustrations" and had sought help at the top level.

"In the interests of all children, this case should serve as a reminder to schools of their responsibility to be alert to the signs of suspected abuse and act on them unquestioningly," he said.

"In return schools and teachers need assurances that their concerns will be taken seriously and won't be ignored."

Ms Bennett said the inquiry, headed by former Ombudsman Mel Smith, would concentrate on whether information had been appropriately shared between the agencies that were dealing with the family.

She said there didn't seem to be any single, glaring failure on the part of any of the agencies.

"But I think no one can say things went right, because they've gone horribly wrong," she said.

"Every available resource was provided in this case, including some of our most expensive and trusted intervention models for at-risk families, yet a child suffered appalling abuse and I want to know why."

- NZPA