A man arrived at the Manukau Police Station about 1am on Monday 6 January, where he spoke to police staff, leading to the discovery of a deceased child in the vehicle.
Two children were allegedly murdered in the first six days of 2025
A 34-year-old man was charged in Hamilton, and another man in his 30s in Auckland. Both have name suppression.
Child Matters chief executive Jane Searle called for more resourcing and training to prevent children being harmed.
New Zealand is off to a grim start to the year after two children were allegedly murdered in the first six days of 2025.
A 34-year-old man was charged with murder after allegedly killing a baby and trying to kill another child and a woman in Hamilton on New Year’s Day.
Papakura Local Board chairman Brent Catchpole said he was left “speechless” by children’s deaths and it “horrifies” him.
“It’s something I wouldn’t wish on any family. And when I see it happening as frequently as it is, it breaks my heart to actually hear that another child has died.”
Child Matters chief executive Jane Searle was “struck by the tragedy” of their deaths.
“Apart from the tragic loss of an innocent life, there is also the toll on the families, community and those professionals involved, such as health professionals and police investigation teams.
The property on Douglas Cres in Hamilton where a child was killed and the mother and two others injured in an assault on New Year's Eve. Photo / NZME
“I also reflect on the many children who are not killed, but who suffer life-changing injuries and harm due to abuse and neglect.”
Minister for Children and for Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence Karen Chhour is encouraging people to reach out for help and report instances of family violence.
“It has been extremely saddening and disappointing to see this already happening so early into this new year,” she said.
“I am urging people to use the resources available to them so that they can get help to stop family and sexual violence. In many cases we know something is happening but do not act, and that is something I am advocating for change in.”
Police officers were especially “shocked” and traumatised by attending to child homicides, Police Association president Chris Cahill said.
Officers would have check-ins with psychologists, though some may need further support.
“I think the real shame of this is it just says that it’s a new year, but [we’ve] got the same old problems of significant child abuse in New Zealand and it’s just a black mark on our country.
Police cordoned off the scene where the car was parked between the Manukau District Court and police station. Photo / Hayden Woodward
“We’ve got to do something to turn it around. It’s just not good enough.”
Searle called for more resourcing and training for Oranga Tamariki social workers, as well as resourcing frontline organisations incommunities.
“We have two options — accept the status quo, or get to work setting up systems that identify risk early and put protections in place.
“Once a child is harmed, it is too late, we have already failed them.”
Catchpole said anyone who saw a child in danger must raise the alarm quickly, rather than waiting for a tragedy.
The long-term solution would involve untangling intergenerational problems in family harm, Cahill said.
“It’s working with whole generations to turn around the idea that violence is an appropriate response to any situation.”
Name suppression for Auckland man accused of murdering child
The Auckland man accused of murdering a young child and leaving the body outside a police station appeared in court on Monday afternoon.
Police said he was known to the child and their family. He was initially set to be represented by a lawyer from the Public Defence Service on Monday morning but the court heard his family had engaged private counsel, so the matter was delayed while his new lawyer, Sharyn Green, could take instructions.
Green sought interim name suppression for the man, citing potential risks to his safety.
Police launched an investigation following a serious incident outside their Manukau Police Station overnight. Photo / Hayden Woodward
A Herald reporter who visited an address linked to the accused on Monday morning witnessed a quiet street and two cars parked in the driveway of a weatherboard-clad house, with no police or investigators present.
Two men arrived while the Herald was at the home, and said they were friends of the family involved in searching for the accused late last night. They claimed the mother of the dead child was inside sleeping and could not speak to any visitors.
Other family members coming to the street would not comment to the Herald.
Police and forensic personnel at the Douglas Cres address in Hamilton where a child was killed and the mother and two others were injured in an assault. Photo / NZME
In the Hamilton case, a special bedside court hearing from a hospital was held on Friday for the 34-year-old man charged with murdering a baby and trying to kill another child and a woman at a Douglas Cres address.
The accused was granted interim name suppression, along with the names of the baby victim, child and injured woman.
He was found near the scene with injuries police believed were self-inflicted after the incident.
