In dark over drunk son

Julianna Paniora. Photo / Janna Dixon

A Dargaville mother didn't learn for four days that her 11-year-old boy had been picked up by police for being "blotto" and was so drunk he threw up in a police car.

Julianna Paniora says her son told her he drank two cans of Billy Maverick, a 9 per cent ready-to-drink bourbon, while in the care of his 22-year-old cousin about 10 days ago.

He was picked up by police while walking to a garage to buy a pie at 10.30pm.

Despite the story being in local newspapers the next day, solo mother Paniora only learned about it four days later, ahead of a visit by Child Youth and Family social workers.

"He was with my sister Leslie so I didn't find out nothing because she didn't tell me," Paniora said.

"I found out from another sister on Tuesday that CYF was coming to see me so on Wednesday we had a meeting. My boy was allowed to come home because I don't allow alcohol in the house."

Paniora said she was out drinking that night and had left her boy with her sister.

"Friday night was the first night I had been out in months. I don't drink as much as I used to - now it is only once a month," she said.

She said she did not believe her son had tried alcohol before and he had been in serious trouble when she found out.

"He is grounded. He is only allowed to be with family. He is not allowed to be around alcohol and all that. Our family has had issues with alcohol."

She said he knew he had done wrong.

"He told me yesterday that he was really sorry and it would never happen again."

She promised that her son would not get access to alcohol again. "I want people to know I am a good mother. I am sick of people assuming things. When it comes to me and my boy, we are a good family and I am a good mother."

She said he had issues at school and had been a victim of bullying, forcing a change of school. He has two older sisters who had left home.

"I have been his mother and father. ... He's never really had a male figure in his life apart from his uncles."

Being picked up by police had shocked her. "I was really upset. I was an emotional wreck - I have been like that all week. I was broken to read all that stuff making me out as a bad mother."

Dargaville Constable Craig Curnow said police were still considering whether to lay charges against the 22-year-old relative.

The boy had been taken to a doctor after throwing up in the police car.

"He was swaying back and forth with his eyes rolling in the back of his head. He was totally unresponsive - you couldn't get a word out of him," Curnow said.

"He was spewing bile by the time we got to the ambulance. He did say 'I am sorry' once or twice."