KEY POINTS:
Here is an earlier selection of Your Views:
Steve Noon
Once again lots of talk about child abuse but very little action. Until a hard line is taken nothing will change. The Kahui case came to light over a year ago and what prosecution and sentence has been imposed? The perpetrators hide behind a legal system that is designed to get people off as opposed to providing justice. Whilst I can't recall the details, there was another case where the two parents were in the house when a child was abused and subsequently died. Because neither would admit guilt or incriminate the other no case will be heard. These two should have been locked up indefinitely for contempt, and no this isn't an abuse of their human rights, they both negated their entitlement to rights when they permanently stole those of a child.
Andrew Atkin
Peter from Auckland reckons that we should sterilise child abusers and kick them out of the gene pool. It's interesting to note that higher animals, when poorly cared for in their youth, tend to neglect and abandon their young, and therefore leaving them for dead. In other words, they do exactly what Peter suggests should be done, by nature. Maybe the real problem (from a black evolutionary perspective) is that we don't stand back and let the child abusers do the job properly and, basically, terminiate themselves like other higher animals do? Maybe the growing problem we face with child abuse is the ultimate price to be paid from contradicting natures way. Food for thought?
Lisa (Auckland)
The culprits should be castrated and have their arms cut off.
Auckland
I like a lot on New Zealnders are shocked by the torture of this wee girl.I can suggest only two things that may stop some of this abuse to our young New Zealanders.
1 Longer jail time for these sick people. 2 Take the DPB back to what it was designed for; for parents that have been widowed, and parents that have had to leave a abusive relationship.We have children having children and getting paid for it. We have women having children to different fathers and getting paid for it. Making the DPB harder to get on may bring the abortion rates up in New Zealand, but it will also bring up the adoption rate.There are loving couples in New Zealand that are waiting to adopt a child.The couples are police checked, and they are checked to make sure their relationship is strong and healthy.It's time that lot down in the Beehive stood up and changed the above to things.The community also needs to speak up when they see abuse.
Auckland
"To the people (hypocritically) criticising the "anti-smacking" legislation in all this, it is precisely this new bill that will make prosecuting abusive parents easier."Wake up - by the time prosecution occurs, it's all too late. Hence the "anti smacking" is useless. We've seen how effective this legislation has been, it time "anti smacking" supporters understand that things need to be done well before smacking / abuse occurs. Maybe if all this effort and cost was channeled into direct education of potential parents, abuse could be avoided before it started.
matt
If a fund is set up, from which a reward would be offered, for information leading to a conviction for child abuse, I and many other kiwis would contribute immediately and generously. Maybe then this problem could be brought out from behind closed doors and dealt with quickly. Maybe appealing to the greed in human nature is a simple way to keep vulnerable children safe! Is this a good idea?
Steve (AKL)
Sterilisation carries a bit of subpleasant aftertaste from the Germany in 1930s and Sweden after the 2nd world war. I'm more into the old eye-for-an-eye semitic drill. Putting a toddler in a drier? Fine - put his ass in the drier too. Industrial sized drier too to cater for his undoubtedly high end body mass. Let's see how he does after tumbling for a half-hour. Massive punches and lashes would also do the trick, Singapore or Russia style. Any seriously damaging corporal punishment would actually do it - render them too sick to hurt others.
Anne (Auckland)
The problem is a national philosophy that people are the least important thing in society, and children don't even make it to that status. Successive governments et al have fostered beliefs and behaviour that establish profit /culture /sexuality/ smoking/ etc/etc.. as more important than people; that any type of self-expression, self-indulgence, personal quality is a 'right', however inappropriate to the human condition. The stress level in this society is increasing at a phenomenal rate with expected social consequences. Ever more laws are being created to force people to live in a society where they cannot 'fit'. Children are at the bottom of the heap, the final target for all of it. Government et al have taught the people children can be relegated to the last priority and the least concern, despite this strategy having been shown to be disastrous around the world. It's a political/philosophical game we are all losing. Change the social philosophy to values of care and concern for positive welfare, one for another, as being of first importance at every level, in every case and children as the foundation of our society. The child abuse rate will diminish.
Margaret Whittaker
I object to the headline 'national scandal'. Our shocking child abuse statistic is a maori scandal and as a non-maori New Zealander, I am sick of being made to feel responsible for these sickening crimes.
Michelle
I believe that these people should be locked away for life. If they have been found to inflict such terrible injuries on such vulnerable children, they dont deserve a life, I am a foreigner and still cannot understand how the people of New Zealand put up with this nonsense. Do you not care for your children? I am a mother of two and married to a kiwi, and since I have been in this country I have been shocked to hear about all this abuse. I just think these people are getting away literally with murder. Its got to stop, if I found anyone doing something so terrible to my children I would murder them myself. Plain and simple, so either the law gets tougher or people will start taking it into their own hands.
Willow
As a mother of three young boys, I find it unbelievable that children can be abused in the first instance. Of course kids push the boundaries, that's how they learn about life, but to take out your frustrations on a child is absolute abhorrent! It seems to becoming far too frequent, these days, and its kind of ironic that with all that furore over the smacking bill, we seem to have seen an increase in attacking and abusing children - shouldn't we have addressed that in the first instance? I can't help but think that the mind set of these adults that are abusing our children, don't seem to see any correlation between their abuse and the smacking bill.I'm really saddened to hear all of this, and believe that something has to be done! Increasing sentences is just the start, that's only going to see that more justice is being served. We've got to stop it at the outset, and everyone should take responsibility for it.
Kirsten (AKLD)
Its disgusting to see innocents being treated by those who should know better in ways that horrify and shame me that these people are part of the human race. I think if you are going to subject a child to such inhumane conditions and appalling treatment that its fair and just for these "people" and I use that word lightly for those scum, they should have their fingers cut off. Makes it hard to tie a child to the clothes line if you have no fingers, thumbs. As for the neighbours who watched and did nothing well they should be equally responsible for punishment.
MS
Why are people commenting on the anti-smacking bill? No law will ever stop this disgraceful behaviour - however hopefully it will lead to these animals being more harshly punished. The government cannot fix this problem - how about a little self-responsibility? Where were the family when this was happening? Clearly they chose to ignore the abuse this lovely little girl - shame on them and anyone else who has been in the same situation and chosen to do nothing. Children are small, innocent and helpless - anyone is ignores this abuse should go straight to jail along with the pathetic excuses for 'parents' who do this to their children.
Murray
Nothing will done until the elders of the perpetrators take responsibility and admit there is a problem instead of looking for anyone and anything else to blame. But for starters, a minimum no-parole period of 20 years for the mongrels instead of the traditional slap with the wet bus ticket. And to be a little proactive, follow Singapore's lead and introduce the death penalty for drugs and first degree murder. And make any death from child abuse murder only, not manslaughter or should we say peopleslaughter.
Vic (Northland)
Yet another case of the system not working. After months of abuse? and no one reported it? If they did, was anything done about it? Where was the mother? Why wasn't the father around? Too many times parents separate and one parent....usually the father is denied access to the child. Shared parenting should be mandatory unless there is very clear signs of abuse.I feel this was a case of being put in the too hard basket and then forgotten until it was too late for the child.
Youness
To stop child abuse the govt need to very though against those criminals. It doesn't matter whether parents or relatives, everyone involved must be in court.
Tom Fox
The issues that present today represent very starkly indeed the tip of an iceberg of social decay bought about from successive government policy in support of social welfare and a complete lack of regard for personal responsibility in the community. This coupled with racially separatist (Maori) divides and political correctness, promoted at all levels of society, has developed an underclass of New Zealanders who now have little hope, no self esteem, no sense of decency (or even wrong and right) and who have become an enormous liability to our country. What to do about this is the burning issue we face.Here are some ideas: Political correctness must be dispensed with. The perpetrators of these abuses must be deal with savagely and immediately. Social welfare reforms are overdue (anyone associated with crime - no welfare at all). Racist policies must be abandoned as failed. Politicians who lie should be fired. Education must be improved.
Mary Ward
I saw Christine Rankin on the Breakfast show this morning and I must commend her for her passion and the fact that finally someone has come out and stated the obvious regarding Maoris and their appalling child abuse record. Why do they treat their children so badly when they rate 'whanau' above all things? If it's money that would help then why aren't they helping themselves out of the millions they've received in treaty settlements? Christine quoted a statistic of 60 per cent of abuse cases were by Maoris who make up 15 per cent of the population. Surely that 60 per cent of the Maori population would in no way be contributing enough in tax money to pay for the hospitalisation and medical care plus the inevitable justice and corrections involvement. How can this be our reality? How did we let this happen? It saddens me that our country has come to this. Although John Howard's approach to curbing child abuse is a heavy handed one, do we need to resort to the same tactics here? Nothing that has been done so far seems to have worked, rather it's getting progressively worse.
Longo fidow
I believe if we strengthen our law and sentencing to make it clear to these offenders who keep harming our children or even think of doing such cruelty to them will then realise how serious we are. Our law has too many loopholes.
Janine (Auckland)
Interesting to note that the anti-smacking legislation did nothing to help these little kiddies suffer at the hands of people that should be trusted. What can we do about this? Why is the Government not taking action? We need to enforce harsher penalties to those animals committing these crimes, sterilisation and a minimum non-parole period of 20 years sounds good to me.
Peter (Auckland)
Regardless of what socio economic background, colour or creed people come from society still knows not to kill children and yet these losers still do it. Remove the genes from the pool and sterilise them no matter how old they are. They have shown society that they do not hold the maturity or common decency to raise children and therefore should no be allowed to bear children. Sterilisation should be done at their cost once they leave jail.
Mark (Auckland)
Why do you use "whanau" instead of "family" or "extended family"?
Christchurch
I feel sick every time I read the news and it is about our children being abused. As a mother myself I find it very hard to even try and understand why these people can be so cruel, heartless, to children who can't even fight back to protect themselves. I think its time that a law is passed that these people never get there children back and if they have more children they are taken from them at birth. Also babies born to drug addicts should be taken right away so they at least have a chance of a good life. It's a disgrace what's going on and as a kiwi and mother myself I feel ashamed to call my self a kiwi.
Harry L (Waitakere City)
To the people (hypocritically) criticising the "anti-smacking" legislation in all this, it is precisely this new bill that will make prosecuting abusive parents easier. To everyone calling out for harsher penalties, we now have them.
John McCall
Another example of Bradford's ill-conceived legislation to ban smacking. This latest incident illustrates her ignorance in believing that banning smacking would reduce child abuse. It (the legislation) will not make one iota of difference. The cowardly people who take out their problems on helpless toddlers are animals and, once identified, should be locked in a cage and the key thrown away. Better still, bring back the death sentence.
Paul
Maybe we should concentrate on getting to the root cause of this problem/epidemic within our society and stop spending two years and millions of dollars on anti-smacking bills. It's introduction (despite the stupid comment below) has done nothing:
"The signal that this house is sending today is that violence against our children is unacceptable." (NZ Herald, May 2007) - hogwash. It never was and will never be the solution. How about we concentrate on what is important. Bradford should resign for wasting everyone's time and money.
Fredd
Such people should be given life imprisonment without parole. By giving them parole - court is spreading the idea amongst the people that in such cases they can get away after couple of years hence it occurs all the time. Kids are innocent angels and gift of god on this earth. They are not aware of race, religion or sex hence they should be treated with love & care. By giving such people severe punishment will show then how they feel as to when they are hurt.
Sharon Toi
We don't have a problem just with child abuse, the problem is thoroughly ignorant and self absorbed adults that don't know any better, getting away with torture and murder. How the hell can we stop these people having babies? And let's inflict punishment on them, and those that stand by and watch this happen, that is in keeping with the suffering they inflict on helpless children. I loathe and detest these people and don't believe they should live amongst us. Imprison for life and make sentences harsher for those that abuse. I don't want them in my community. It is up to us to hold these people to account.
Outraged parent
I have to ask where is Sue Bradford in all of this, extremely quiet. These people that abuse these kids are not bad they are evil. Let us no longer blame P as the problem, no one put a gun to their head and told them to smoke it or what ever you do with it. There should no longer be parole for these evil individuals, put them on an island or hard labour.
Alan Wilkinson
It's not a national scandal. It's a racial and cultural scandal. Despite much PC hogwash about domestic violence occurring equally for all classes and races it doesn't. You have to be stupidly determined to overlook the obvious patterns we see in all these cases.
Disgusted Auckland
While this is not an exclusive Maori problem it cannot be ignored that they as a race are over represented in this evil and disgusting behaviour. Leaders need to stop bleating about past grievances and who owns the beach and deal with the real issues they face as a people. Face the facts and deal with it or it will never change and shame on you for burying your head in the sand while your children die.
Cherry Poppa
Found guilty, death sentence, should not be breeding off the mongrels. Absolutely disgusting behaviour.
Karen Coburn
I think that everyone should stop making excuses, nationwide or not New Zealand has a high rate of child abuse. Set examples brain damaged kids caused by older people is shame full shame on them. If a child suffers brain damage which is for life then these animals should get life and should never be allowed to have children of there own. I have a daughter who is ADHD and at times, a big deal, but never would I want to hurt her. They're all mongrels, heartless chickens.
Joann Hohaia
It has a lot to do with our prison systems. People can get away with crime like this one and maybe get a slap on the hand. It always seems to be our children who suffer then grow up to abuse their children. Drugs are another factor in these cases. Our Law need to get tough. No free ride anymore.
Dan (Auckland)
Sue Bradford's anti-smacking bill will stop this... yeah right.
Jason (Auckland)
The answer is simple - tougher sentencing an eye for an eye. The individuals that day after day beat this poor innocent young girl should be beaten to within an inch of their lives every day for a year. When they get better they should be beaten again. When jailed they should be given no luxuries - a cold hard floor no blanket and fed bread and water only. You might cry "Human Rights" but the kind of people that can do this to a young girl are, in my opinion animals not human and deserve to be treated as such.
P (Auckland)
Tough penalties for abusers, greater powers for health and family support providers to intervene early, readily available education for people responsible for caring for children and greater child care options for parents working to survive.
Debbie
Anybody that is involved in any form of child abuse should be sterilised & not be allowed to re-produce ever. I know this won't solve the problem but at least they can't have a baby to abuse again. This is a national problem - people need to take self responsibility & report things that they see or make someone aware instead of burying their heads in the sand like what's been happening lately. This is a horrific thing to happen to anyone let alone an innocent helpless child.
Margie
The offenders and/or parents should be sterilised.
Sarah (Auckland)
A small thing that could help would be when CYFS are investigating a family, it would be better turn up unannounced. Making appointments to make it known they are coming is silly. All that does is let the family time to get an 'act' sorted. Coach the kids etc. Such a small thing but may help in a big way.
Chris
Prevent the abusers from breeding or having anything further to do with children...can't hurt what you haven't got - our laws give them a slap on the hand, what does that tell them!