Tuaman steps up to help fight child abuse

By REBECCA WALSH

Heavyweight boxer David Tua has offered to step in and help front a campaign against child abuse.

The move comes after Rangi Whakaruru, one of the faces of the Children First Foundation television campaign, admitted that he had beaten his stepdaughter, Jamila Dlala, and her mother.

Mr Whakaruru is the great-uncle of James Whakaruru, who was beaten to death at the age of 4 by his stepfather.

He had fronted the campaign with TVNZ newsreader Liz Gunn and former All Black Michael Jones.

Tua's manager, Kevin Barry, said he became concerned when he saw the campaign "coming unstuck and people losing focus." He rang Tua, who said he was keen to take part in the campaign.

"He has been an advocate for breaking the cycle and feels very much for stopping the abuse of children. He said he would willingly jump in ... We have unconditionally offered our services."

Mr Barry said there were "no skeletons" in Tua's closet.

"If there had been something like that I would have to be a hypocrite to have to want to be part of this campaign and to associate my man David Tua [with it]."

Mr Barry said Tua's 2-year-old son was his "best friend."

He said any filming for the campaign would have to take place in the next two weeks, because Tua was leaving for another title fight in America.

"We need to really have a positive influence on this now, because there's been a lot of negativity over the last couple of days and people have lost their focus on what the campaign is all about."

Michael Jones said Tua and Barry had come forward in the wake of the controversy and were "110 per cent behind us."

They had offered to contribute in any way they could to help end child abuse.

"Basically, as proud New Zealanders, they saw the bigger picture and they weren't prepared to let an unfortunate circumstance derail and take away from what we all believe in, and that's a child-friendly society."

Details were still to be worked out about how they could help.

Mr Whakaruru said yesterday that he had been charged with assault on Jamila in Australia "some time in the 1980s."

"I had never been before the court before in my life ... I had to see a counsellor for some time."

A charge of assault made against him by former partner Denise Ferris in 1998 had been dropped.

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