Parents accused of neglect remanded in custody

File photo / NZ Herald

Two parents accused of neglecting their children have been remanded in custody until a bail hearing later on Thursday.

They appeared at the Lower Hutt District Court today and were granted interim name suppression.

The pair have been charged with neglecting their four young children - one charge each for each child.

They were supported by family members when they appeared separately.

The mother's lawyer, Kerry O'Brien, said her client could be bailed to her sister's home in Upper Hutt, where there were five children.

Judge Ian Mill said before her next appearance he wanted to know more from police about who had been arrested at the parents' property, details about the sister's property and what was happening with their children.

The children's lawyer, Sarah Hughes, said the youngsters, aged between seven months and four years, were with Child Youth and Family caregivers and "that is unlikely to change in the near future".

The parents were among people arrested at a Lower Hutt address on January 4 after police were called to reports of disorder. Nine children were at the address.

The arrests prompted a joint investigation by police and Child Youth and Family.

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