Family's 13 kids camped in 'filth'

THIRTEEN children and their parents are living rough in "filthy" conditions in the backblocks north of Wairoa - but Child, Youth and Family has not done anything about it, says National MP Anne Tolley.
"The parents, along with their 13 children aged one to 16, have nowhere to live and have created a rough campsite at Tiniroto. It has no drinking water, no toilets and no cooking facilities except an open fire," Ms Tolley, an East Coast MP and one-time Napier city councillor, said.
She said she had visited the site and found the children to be "bright kids" but their hygiene conditions were "filthy".
She had filed a notification of neglect with CYF, but it had taken two months to receive a reply.
"They then had the temerity to suggest the case 'did not present as an imminent danger or threat, and has not met the thresholds for Family Court intervention to date'," Ms Tolley said.
The children had not been to school since August, had inadequate clothing and were at risk of serious health problems with the onset of winter, Ms Tolley claimed.
"It is astonishing that CYF's only action is to try to set up a family group conference which the parents say they will not support and will no doubt try to avoid. This is a clear case of neglect and these children have only CYF to rely on. There is no one else to help them."
She said she raised the issue in Parliament yesterday because of the lack of action.
Speaking for Social Development Minister Ruth Dyson, associate minister Darren Hughes said that from what Ms Tolley had told the House, "that does not sound good enough at all".
He told Ms Tolley that if she referred the matter to Ms Dyson, she would look at it personally.
"CYF worked hard for the best and safest outcome for children and young people ... and that is the expectation that the Government has of it," Mr Hughes said.
Ms Tolley said she had already written to Ms Dyson. CYF had known about the family since mid-last year, she said.
If decisive action wasn't taken soon, the family would probably disappear further into the bush.
A CYF spokesperson said it was hoping to work with the whanau, and people were much more inclined to work with CYF if they don't "blab about their circumstances in the media".