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Child Youth and Family were informed on two separate occasions of family disturbances at the home of the 10-month-old Manurewa toddler who died in suspicious circumstances last week.
More details of Jyniah Mary Te Awa's troubled home life are now starting to emerge as police continue their inquiries into the toddler's death from "a non-accidental brain injury".
Police have stopped short of saying they are running a murder inquiry, but have confirmed they are speaking to a number of adults who had contact with the 10-month-old last weekend - including the child's parents, Ike Te Awa, 23, and Lisa Cassidy, 24, as well as Cassidy's sister. Both parents are beneficiaries.
Detective Senior Sergeant Sue Schwalger refused to comment about the background of family members, or whether they were close to an arrest.
The family had been known to CYF, according to sources.
In late 2004, CYF was notified by police about a domestic dispute where a child was believed to have been present. And again in April this year, police informed CYF of a domestic incident involving Te Awa and Cassidy at their Manurewa address.
CYF general manager of operations Lorraine Williams said it responded to both notifications, but they were at such a low level that further action by CYF was not believed to be warranted.
It was also worthy of note, Williams said, that the household where Jyniah was allegedly injured was not that of her parents.
Beyond that CYF could not comment further, she said, as Jyniah's death was the subject of a police investigation.
However, it could confirm the couple's remaining two children - a six-year-old girl and a four-year-old boy - had since been removed by CYF and placed into the care of family members.
Four children from the Burbank Ave address where Jyniah was staying last weekend have also been taken into CYF custody. The property is believed to be rented by a cousin of either Te Awa or Cassidy. Jyniah is believed to have been regularly passed around relatives.
Ambulance paramedics were called to that address at 10.40am on Sunday following a 111 emergency call. Jyniah was taken to Middlemore Hospital with what is understood to be serious head injuries and was transferred to Starship. She survived the night, but died about 4pm on Monday.
About 15 investigators plus forensic staff are working on the case. No charges have yet been laid.
Her death comes less than two months after Rotorua 3-year-old Nia Glassie died after allegedly being hung out on a washing line and spun through a clothes dryer, and 15 months after the death of infant twins Cru and Chris Kahui.
