Police investigate baby's facial injuries

Anglican minister and child advocate Dr Hone Kaa. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Police are investigating how a 12-week-old child got facial injuries.

Constable Clare Jackson said the child from Takanini was taken to Auckland's Starship Hospital over the weekend but has since been discharged.

She said the baby's injuries are not serious but "the file is under investigation" and the injuries are unexplained.

The case comes as James Allan Hemana, 30, appears at the District Court in Te Awamutu today for assaulting a six month old child.

Cezar Taylor - the son of Hemana's partner - was taken to Starship with severe head injuries on Friday morning.

Meanwhile a child advocate is calling on family and neighbours to speak out about child abuse.

Archdeacon Dr Hone Kaa, heads up Te Kahui Mana Ririki, which aims to prevent abuse of Maori children.

He said he cannot understand why people do not speak up when they suspect children are being abused.

"I suspect it is a 'my home, my castle' thing which is still going on in some people's heads," Dr Kaa said.

He said the western idea of privacy seems to turn people off speaking out but people need to go back to the old adage of: "It takes a whole village to raise a child".

"We are never going to be able to heal our community if the community does not buy into the need to watch over each other," Dr Kaa said.

He said there are many organisations out there that are helping people get out of abusive relationships.

However, Dr Kaa said a fear of authority could be putting some people off.

"For the people affected by child abuse, and who are often in the category of depravation, there is a feeling that: If I go there my head will pop up and who else may come after me.

"It is that fear of authority, and I don't know how you break that down, but it is important for those agencies to get out into the community and be heard in the community to help break that down," Dr Kaa said.