Rally for Moko attracts crowd on Tauranga waterfront

Rally for Moko on Tauranga waterfront attracted many despite wind and rain. Photo/John Borren

More than a hundred people huddled under the awnings on Tauranga waterfront this morning for a Rally for Moko.

The rally was one of many held nationwide to coincide with David Haerewa and Tania Shailer's sentencing in the High Court at Rotorua - the caregivers responsible for the death of three-year-old Moko.

Check out LIVE videos of the event on our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/bayofplentytimes/
Moko was kicked, slapped, stomped on, had faeces rubbed in his face and was bitten.

He died in Taupo Hospital in August last year after suffering internal bleeding, septic shock from his leaking bowel and swelling of the brain.

Originally charged with Moko's murder, Shailer and Haerewa pleaded guilty to manslaughter.

People were tightly bundled up against the rain and the cold as several speakers talked at the rally held at Edgewater Fan on The Strand.

Organisers Rochelle and her daughter Cheyjuana Doyle read speeches, one of which was s speech read out at all the events around the country.

Ms Doyle said everyone was gathered to seek justice for Moko and the children who had and continue to be abused in their homes.

The younger Ms Doyle said New Zealand brought us so many things to be proud of but when it came to child abuse we could only be "utterly ashamed".

Speakers included Tauranga mayor Stuart Crosby, community family violence response coordinator Heather Beddie, Merivale Community Centre manager Tauha TeKani, NZ First MP Clayton Mitchell and BOP Labour Electorate committee member Russell Langton.