NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
  • Herald NOW
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Politics
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Herald NOW
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / New Zealand

Whangarei childcare centres surprised to hear of sex offenders living in nearby Corrections facility

By Kristin Edge
Reporter·Northern Advocate·
2 Mar, 2018 05:00 PM5 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

A house where convicted child sex offenders are living overlooks a children's playground. Photo / Michael Cunningham

A house where convicted child sex offenders are living overlooks a children's playground. Photo / Michael Cunningham

Owners of two Whangarei childcare centres say they were not consulted about a facility housing convicted child sex offenders which has opened just a few hundred metres from both.

The Dent St facility, housing at least four men convicted of child sex offences, is within a few hundred metres of three childcare centres, a children's playground and a community hall used by various community and youth groups.

The facility is in a bungalow formerly used as a beauty salon and overlooks Laurie Hall Park, a popular thoroughfare for students from nearby schools, and a playground frequently used by young children. It was opened last December.

The Department of Corrections has contracted People At Risk Solutions (PARS) to manage the 12-week transitional supported accommodation service which helps offenders comply with their prison release conditions.

Corrections said police were informed last year and four early childhood centres were also visited. There were no residents in the house "if it was considered that their risk could not be safely managed and public safety upheld'', services operations director Lynette Cave said.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

However, Alan and Jackie Lints, owners and directors of Educare in Norfolk St, said they had not been consulted about the facility and next week would be contacting Corrections, wanting answers.

They learned of the facility yesterday after inquiries by the Northern Advocate.

"Ideally we don't want it there but society requires it, but I think they should reconsider the current location," Mrs Lints said.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"Safety of our children is a paramount and we have procedures in place to ensure their safety."

Lin Smith, owner and head teacher of Smiths City Childcare Centre, was disappointed she had not been informed by Corrections that child sex offenders were at the property — 150m from her childcare centre in Hunt St.

"I have absolutely had no contact about this and they did not consult. It's disappointing to have this so close to so many childcare centres," Mrs Smith said after learning about the use of the property, which was formerly used as a beauty salon.

Mrs Smith said yesterday staff would be reminded of procedures already in place about keeping staff and children safe at the centre but extra attention would now be paid to any males who might be seen acting suspiciously outside the centre.

"We have policies in place to keep staff and children safe at all times. I am very confident I can contact police staff if I need to and they will be here in a heartbeat."

A community hall at 116 Bank St is used by a variety of groups including youth. However, a person managing the hall had not heard of the Dent St facility and declined to comment.

Operations Director Corrections Services Lynette Cave said the Dent St facility was not specific to child sex offenders, but was currently housing four men who had convictions for child sex offences.

"Some of the offenders in this accommodation also have links to the Whangarei area. Assisting them to reside in a community where they have existing connections with support people reduces their likelihood of re-offending," Ms Cave said.

Three of the offenders are on extended supervision orders, which requires them to comply with extensive conditions including GPS monitoring, curfews, and counselling as directed.

The fourth offender is subject to release conditions. Since moving in, one of the men had been charged with breaching conditions. There was a live-in manager to provide round-the-clock oversight and support.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

She reiterated four childcare centres had been visited on October 4 last year and police had been informed.

"We discussed the processes in place for managing community-based offenders and working with government agencies like police to ensure public safety. Notifications to residents are carried out on a case by case basis," she said.

The Department of Corrections said no offender would be allowed at the Whangarei house if they were considered a risk.

"The safety of the community is Corrections' and our providers' primary priority. No offender would be permitted to reside at an address if it was considered that their risk could not be safely managed and public safety upheld,'' Ms Cave said.

"Community Corrections staff carry out an extensive and robust process to assess the suitability of every address proposed to accommodate a person with a conviction for child sex offending."

A range of factors were considered before the Dent St facility was opened, including the location of victims, proximity to places designed for children, physical factors of the property such as shared access, access to support services, including Community Corrections and police.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

A property located within 500m of a school or place designed for children might be approved, dependent on all other factors being taken into consideration, Ms Cave said.

"Corrections has specific guidelines for housing child sex offenders, including consideration of proximity to schools, parks, and family homes where children are occupants."

Corrections deemed the Dent St property was in a largely commercial area on a main road and was close to support services.

"The chosen location supports the safe management of any risk associated with offenders residing there to reduce the likelihood of re-offending and keep the community safe."

Consideration was also given to the location of victims.

Police have regular contact with residents and staff, and meet monthly with providers and Corrections staff as part of the ongoing oversight of the service.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Corrections operate similar accommodation in Northland with PARS and another provider but would not say where those were.

Save

    Share this article

Latest from New Zealand

New Zealand

Smokefreerockquest Showquest Nelson Final

Premium
New Zealand

Court holds forestry directors accountable for environmental compliance

03 Jul 06:00 AM
New Zealand

Smokefreerockquest Bay of Plenty Regional Final

There’s more to Hawai‘i than beaches and buffets – here’s how to see it differently

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from New Zealand

Smokefreerockquest Showquest Nelson Final

Smokefreerockquest Showquest Nelson Final

More highlights from Smokefreerockquest and Showquest Regional Finals 2025.

Premium
Court holds forestry directors accountable for environmental compliance

Court holds forestry directors accountable for environmental compliance

03 Jul 06:00 AM
Smokefreerockquest Bay of Plenty Regional Final

Smokefreerockquest Bay of Plenty Regional Final

Smokefreerockquest Central Otago Regional Final

Smokefreerockquest Central Otago Regional Final

From early mornings to easy living
sponsored

From early mornings to easy living

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP