Toddler's death adds to nation's child abuse shame

Brad Morrissey is angry. The grieving father of murdered Tauranga toddler Aaliyah Morrissey still cannot believe his daughter's life was so brutally cut short.

"She was only two-years-old - she wasn't given a chance."


Aaliyah died of massive injuries to her head and other parts of her body in Auckland's Starship Hospital last Thursday. Her killer still hasn't been found.

Ambulance staff had two days earlier found Aaliyah's broken and unconscious body at a house two doors away from her family's home in Haukore St.

Her death has again highlighted what many claim is New Zealand's indifference towards the problem of chronic child abuse.

New Zealand has one of the highest rates of child homicide in the developed world, with around 10 children killed a year.

Many youngsters suffer savage beatings in the weeks and months before, mostly at the hands of family members.

Children's Commissioner Dr Cindy Kiro struggles for answers as to why New Zealand's child murder rate is so high.

"We need to send a clear message that this kind of behaviour is not acceptable and that our legislation and practices ... do actually send that message."

But her words are of little comfort to Brad Morrissey.

Speaking from the family's Tauranga home yesterday, Mr Morrissey told the Herald on Sunday how much he missed his only daughter and youngest child.

"She was her daddy's girl. I loved her very, very much and she loved me."

Aaliyah, who would hug her father's leg and say "Hello my daddy" when he got home from work, was farewelled wearing her favourite purple dress.

Hundreds of family and friends gathered at Waimapu Marae to farewell the youngster, who was buried in a small, white coffin, along with a full bottle of Milo and her treasured pink plastic trike.

His daughter's death had reunited many members of his family, including his mother and father - estranged for the past 22 years - and his brother and sister who had flown from Australia for the funeral. "Baby pulled everyone together," said Mr Morrissey

At the funeral, his cousin - who gave birth just over an hour before Aaliyah died - passed her newborn baby to Aaliyah's mother Hoana to hold.

"It was like one soul left and another arrived."

Mr Morrissey said he and his wife definitely wanted more children and he especially wanted another girl to replace the "gift" that had been Aaliyah.

But before having more children, Mr and Mrs Morrissey wanted to put Aaliyah's death behind them and find a safer home for brothers Jacob, 6, and Raymond, 4.

"We've got to move, we've got to," said Mr Morrissey.

"We're terrified. It makes me feel sick, driving past that house every day."

Although police are yet to find Aaliyah's killer, they have confirmed they have searched the home of a man who is on bail awaiting a murder trial next year.

Aaliyah's death also marks a black week in the Bay of Plenty.

A toddler was yesterday still fighting for his life in Whakatane Hospital after suffering severe head injuries on Wednesday.

Since then, the two men allegedly responsible for the two-and-half-year-old's injuries have appeared on charges in court.

Harley Mac Wharewera, 19, of Whakatane, faces a single charge of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and was remanded in custody following a brief appearance in the Rotorua District Court on Friday.

Further charges are likely to be laid against Wharewera when he next comes before a judge in the Whakatane District Court on Wednesday.

Kane Jeremy Tawa, 23, of Whakatane, is jointly charged with Wharewera and faces a charge that while having control of the child, he wilfully ill treated him in a manner to cause unnecessary suffering.

Child Youth and Family Minister Ruth Dyson conceded yesterday New Zealand's child abuse and murder statistics were depressing.

"A lot of our parents don't have any parenting skills and find bringing up a child is just too much to cope with," she said.

National Party welfare spokeswoman Judith Collins agreed.

"The message is still not getting through to the very people we need to get through to. We're not valuing children.

"We're too soft on people who are bullies towards children and on people who are unfit to be near children."

Agencies can help those people who want to be good parents.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY