KEY POINTS:
Rotorua's mayor denies a meeting held with government agencies and community groups was a "talkfest" and is promising a community response to the problem of violence against children in the city.
The meeting was held in Rotorua today after two high-profile cases involving injured children being admitted to hospital, both are from Rotorua.
Three-year-old Nia Glassie remains on a ventilator, profoundly comatose, after allegedly enduring months of physical abuse and a 12-week-old baby boy is recovering from suspicious injuries.
Rotorua's mayor Kevin Winters said he was delighted with the meeting and humbled by the support from the 70 people who attended, including 20 from government and community agencies.
Mr Winters told NZPA he intended to establish a strategic implementation group (SIG), with representatives from the meeting today serving on it, to tackle the problem of family violence.
The group would focus on zero to five year olds, he said.
Mr Winters said welfare and support groups were doing a "fantastic job", but the SIG was required to step in and fine tune the system.
"We've made huge gains in the past and we don't need to decry the work these groups have done."
At the meeting Mr Winters said it was clear the problems which existed were not from lack of resources or legal issues.
"Often at-risk families don't engage into the resources and help available and the question is how do we engage with those at risk."
Mr Winters said the problem was a community one, one which the city was prepared to step-up and take responsibility for .
Mr Winters denied today's meeting was a talkfest, with no real outcome.
"The community has come together because they don't accept this behaviour in their families or whanau."
Mr Winter said he did not talk about the two Rotorua children in hospital at the meeting because he wanted to talk about issues in a generic way.
"I didn't want to delve into it, but rather look at it in a Rotorua and New Zealand-wide way."
A spokeswoman for Auckland's Starship Hospital said the 12-week baby boy was continuing to improve in hospital.
The Lakes District Health Board yesterday said that the boy was initially taken to the hospital on Tuesday and was assessed as having had "a choking episode". The episode was not considered suspicious, and the baby was treated and observed for 48 hours before being discharged.
The spokeswoman said Nia was in a serious but stable condition.
"She remains on a ventilator and is profoundly comatose.
"Reports that she was seen smiling and waving are not correct."
- NZPA
