McClay seeks answers in killing of Mereana Edmonds

The Commissioner for Children will investigate how Child, Youth and Family Services (CYFS) handled the case of a 6-year-old Hamilton girl beaten to death by her mother.

Roger McClay said he would make further inquiries about the systems CYFS used when it was asked to look into suspicions of abuse surrounding Mereana Edmonds, who died in Hamilton in May last year.

Mereana's mother, Belinda Edmonds, was jailed for five years on Friday for the manslaughter of her daughter, and Edmonds' partner, Dorothy Tipene, was jailed for 18 months for cruelty to the girl.

In the High Court at Hamilton, Justice Grant Hammond said Edmonds had inflicted serious physical and psychological abuse on her daughter over several years. He said Tipene had colluded with Edmonds over the abuse and made no effort to stop it.

Mereana died from oxygen starvation to the brain, the result of three serious brain injuries doctors said could have been inflicted only by her being propelled with force into a floor or wall.

She also had 30 cuts, bruises and abrasions over her body, a broken collarbone and broken ribs.

Mr McClay said he was awaiting further information from CYFS, but he would look carefully into what action staff took and if that action was sufficient.

CYFS has refused to divulge any information about Mereana's case. It will confirm only that it received one "notification" about concerns for her care, but will not say what action it took. The notification is believed to have come from Mereana's school, Hamilton East Primary, but the school refuses to confirm that.

CYFS also refuses to confirm that its actions amounted to just one phone call to Mereana's home, which was answered by Dorothy Tipene, who identified herself as the girl's caregiver. It also refuses to confirm that its staff did not visit the house.

CYFS spokeswoman Anne-Marie Johnson said Mereana's case had been "actioned appropriately." She would not comment further.

Mr McClay said his office would look at the practices, policies and procedures CYFS undertook. He would also talk to Mereana's school and other groups which had contact with her.

"She didn't stand a chance and society has a right to know what happens when a child's life is taken like this."