The tragic deaths of two babies - one only hours old - is a wake-up call for all New Zealanders, says Children's Commissioner Cindy Kiro.
A newborn baby girl was found dead in the back yard of a Lower Hutt home on Friday, one day after 22-month-old Tyla-MareeDayrll Flynn died from severe burns.
Dr Kiro said the deaths showed the message for parents to protect their young ones was not getting through.
"People need to know they will be held to account for their actions," she told the Herald yesterday.
"Family members and friends also need to intervene when they see this kind of behaviour. There was a case last week with a woman who beat her five children with a hammer.
"Where do they get this kind of thinking from? These are acts of cruelty that are almost beyond comprehension."
A 28-year-old woman is due to appear in court today charged with the murder of the newborn in Lower Hutt. Police would not say if she was related to the baby because she may seek name suppression.
It is understood she is unlikely to face further charges. No one else is being sought in relation to the death.
Detective Inspector Shane Cotter said a post-mortem had been completed, but he would not comment on how the baby died.
"She was only alive for several hours, definitely not more than one day old. At this stage we don't know what day she was born, and we don't know what day she died," he said.
Dr Kiro said the matter highlighted the need for stronger support for parents, education on parenting before people had children, and greater awareness of support groups that could help if parents were at breaking point.
She has written to every MP to promote a Unicef handbook called Eliminating Violence Against Children. "I intend to follow up all of the MPs and each of the parties, asking what more can we do?"
