Wandering toddlers put in care

Two toddlers, aged 2 and 3, have been taken into care after they were found wandering while, police say, their parents were passed out drunk on the floor of their Whangarei home.

Officers were called to an Otangarei house about 6.30pm on Tuesday after residents raised the alarm. The children had been found on the street without adult supervision.

Sergeant Richard Thompson, of Whangarei police, said a 47-year-old man and a woman, 34, had been found unresponsive on the floor of a nearby house and an ambulance was called.

Officers had managed to wake the couple before the ambulance arrived.

Child, Youth and Family (CYF) were notified and the children are now in the organisation's care.

Police investigations revealed the man was allegedly breaching his bail conditions by consuming alcohol.

The man was charged with breaching bail and appeared in the Whangarei District Court on Wednesday.

CYF Northern regional director Marion Heeney confirmed they had been notified by police of concerns for the two children.

"They are now in our care and have been placed in a safe and secure environment," Mrs Heeney said.

She said police had the legal ability to place children into the care of CYF for up to five days.

"When police place a child with us under these circumstances, we may ask a friend or whanau member to temporarily care for the child.

"When this is not possible, the child will be placed with an approved caregiver," Mrs Heeney said.

Where appropriate, CYF would work with the parents to help them address the issues that had led to their child coming into CYF care.

In some cases, when the situation was determined safe, the child would be returned to the parents immediately.

Some families would require ongoing CYF support, she said.

Each case was treated on its merits and CYF looked to the strengths of the family to ensure children could be well cared for.

Medical experts have warned about the dangers of drinking to excess.

Northland St John operations manager Tony Devanney said when people were so drunk they passed out or became unconscious, they were unable to control their airways.

If they were lying on their backs and vomited, the chances of choking were high.