Missing CYF boy dies in cliff fall

A 13-year-old South Auckland boy has been found dead in the sea after his disappearance from a Child Youth and Family-authorised camp was not reported to police for four days.

Otis Auelua vanished from the camp at Matauri Bay in Northland on December 9.

The camp was organised by the Government-financed social agency Pacific World.

But Otis' disappearance was not reported to police in Auckland until last Monday - four days later.

His body was found at about 6pm on Wednesday, Senior Sergeant Mike Pannett, in charge of Bay of Islands police, said yesterday.

Mr Pannett said it appeared the boy had fallen from cliffs near the Rainbow Warrior Memorial at Matauri Bay.

Otis' aunt, Phyllis Wynyard, said the family was in shock and angry.

She said Otis - who she described as "troubled" - was picked up by Pacific World last week, despite his mother telling him he could not go on the trip as he was due to make a court appearance.

A note was left on the door saying Otis had been taken away.

She declined to say why Otis was to have appeared in court.

"We are not satisfied," Miss Wynyard said.

"We are quite angry. When he first went missing they didn't notify the social worker, who would have told the family or the police. It wasn't until two days later they were told."

A Pacific World representative came to the family's home on Saturday to say Otis had disappeared. Otis' mother had not been home and the person returned on Sunday.

The Pacific World worker said Otis might have gone to visit family in the area, and his mother thought that could be a possibility.

"He's quite resourceful," Miss Wynyard said.

"He goes off on his own but he always turned up. I think they were expecting him to turn up."

She said a Pacific World report said Otis walked off on his own about 1.30pm on December 9.

He had been called back, but didn't return.

"The family is not satisfied with the way this has been handled."

Miss Wynyard said Pacific World's report said camp organisers had looked for Otis, asking locals and kaumatua if they had seen him. They had also taken a boat out to look around the rocks.

Miss Wynyard said Otis, one of seven children, had been living at his parent's home in Otara, but CYF had been involved with him since about the beginning of the year.

He was "a bit of a rebel, getting into trouble with the law", but was always willing to help members of his family.

CYF national media adviser Jenny Alexander said yesterday that CYF knew of the boy's death.

"We're doing our own information gathering and getting all the facts for a report," she said. 
 

Calls to Pacific World officials were not returned last night.

Pacific World runs one of six Government-sponsored projects under the youth suicide prevention strategy, financed by the Department of Internal Affairs.

Lost Days

Thursday Dec 9: Otis Auelua, 13, goes missing from camp at Matauri Bay

Monday Dec 13: Disappearance reported to South Auckland Police.

Wednesday Dec 15: Police find Otis' body in the sea.