Mikus Report Highlights Departmental Failure

New Zealand First family affairs spokesperson Barbara Stewart says the Government must review the current CYFS structure before any more children suffer at the hands of known sex offenders.

“The Mikus report has highlighted failings within the department that must be addressed immediately,” said Mrs Stewart.

“The fact that Mikus was allowed custody of children when he was a known sex offender is outrageous.

“CFYS is there to protect children who cannot protect themselves and they have failed to do so with consistent judgment and system failures.

“It is time for drastic change to take place within CYFS. The Government must look at different options and models used within New Zealand and overseas. The Starship Children’s Hospital operates a multi-agency, co-ordinated model that could serve as an example.

“New Zealand First supports the development of a co-ordinated, community based agency linking health, education, welfare and police which would have responsibility for pro-actively preventing child abuse.

“Now that failures have been identified within CYFS it is time for action to be taken to ensure that no more children are abused or killed because known offenders have fallen through the cracks,” said Mrs Stewart.

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