Nicola Dally-Paki, mother of Moko Rangitoheriri, gives evidence at the coroners inquest into the death of her son held at the Rotorua District Court today.
Moko's grandmother says she offered to take care of him and his sister the month before he was killed - but this was rejected by their mother.
Moko Rangitoheriri was three when he died on August 10, 2015 after suffering horrific beatings at the hands of his caregivers.
Nicola Rangitoheriri, his paternal grandmother, told the inquest into his death at the Rotorua District Court that she wanted to pick up the children from Taupo, where they were staying with Tania Shailer.
However, because of various court orders in place, Rangitoheriri needed a letter of support from their mother Nicola Dally-Paki.
The letter was promised, said Rangitoheriri, but then denied.
Moko Rangitoheriri was three when he died on August 10, 2015 after suffering horrific beatings at the hands of his caregivers. Photo / Supplied
Shailer and her partner David Haerewa were jailed in June 2016 for 17 years with a minimum non-parole period of nine years after pleading guilty to manslaughter.
They appealed their sentences, saying they were too harsh. But the Court of Appeal rejected the bid and said the pair should count themselves "fortunate" they were not jailed for life.
Nicola Rangitoheriri also expressed frustration after raising concerns with Child Youth Family.
"To the government departments and their support people involved before the passing of my grandson, step up when whanau like myself have concerns, it takes a lot for us to ask and speak out," she said.
"I screamed and yelled but no one heard me or helped me. My Moko screamed and yelled but no one heard him or helped him ... I have no more screaming or yelling. I only have tears from within my heart and soul."
She was well aware of the violence her son, Karauna Rangitoheriri, inflicted on Dally-Paki. He was on home detention with her in Manurewa at the time and was not allowed to have contact with the children.
So in order to try and get Moko and his sister, Nicola Rangitoheriri organised a new home detention address for her son to comply with the non-association orders.
But she said this offer was rejected by Dally-Paki at a whanau hui.
Moko' mother Nicola Dally-Paki. Photo / Alan Gibson
Earlier in the hearing, Moko's mother urged victims of domestic violence to get out and "don't look back" in order to protect themselves and their children.
Moko and his sister went to live with Tania Shailer when their brother was in Starship Hospital with a serious infection from a leg injury, and Dally-Paki was unable to get accommodation nearby.
Dally-Paki explained she was trying to escape a violent relationship and was struggling financially on the domestic purposes benefit, as well as travelling back and forth from Tokoroa.
While waiting for an application for a bed at Ronald McDonald House, Dally-Paki said she would sneak Moko and his sister into the ward to sleep in the hospital with their brother.
Her application was declined because of her history of family violence, gang connections and possible safety risk to others.
For similar reasons, Dally-Paki was declined to get housing at the Auckland Women's Refuge.
So Moko and his sister had to stay with Shailer and Haewera. Two months later, he was dead.
Dally-Paki trusted Shailer, whom she had known for 15 years, and who also was a qualified childhood teacher.
"It was better than a gang life," said Dally-Paki. She "absolutely" regretted making the decision to send them to Taupo with Shailer.
Since Moko died, Dally-Paki says her life has been "challenging to say the least" but this does in no way compares to the torture that Moko and his sister suffered.
"I accept that I as a victim of domestic violence made mistakes, my children and I live with those mistakes every day.
"I believe the policies and procedures assisted in bad decision-making that led to my son's death ... I will also continue to advocate for families of domestic violence and encourage them to get help free of judgment or criticism.
"Perhaps if I had been judged less harshly, Moko would be in my arms today."
Dally-Paki was also critical a staff member at the Maori Women's Refuge, who supported Shailer at a CYF meeting a few days before Moko died on August 20, 2015.
According to the evidence of Detective Inspector Lew Warner, Moko's sister told a social worker that she and Shailer had been hitting Moko.
"Aunty Tania would punch Moko but she made sure to say that the punches didn't hurt," is how the social worker described her conversation with Moko's sister to police, which was recorded in her statement.
In her brief of evidence to the Coroner, the social worker said her statement to police about how "Aunty Tania would punch Moko" was either "inaccurately written or understood".
However, according to a report by Detective Senior Sergeant John Wilson, the social worker's first comments about Shailer hitting Moko were verified by a social worker who witnessed the original conversation with police.
"This retraction is clearly as a result of [the social worker] realising she should have reported what were obviously signs that child abuse was going on in the Shailer/Haewera household," wrote Wilson in a report handed to the inquest.
