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

Nia Glassie's abuser has third baby taken at birth by authorities

Anna Leask
By Anna Leask
Senior Journalist - crime and justice·Herald on Sunday·
5 Nov, 2016 04:00 PM3 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

Nia Glassie was killed in 2007 by five adults who lived at her Rotorua home. Photograph/supplied.

Nia Glassie was killed in 2007 by five adults who lived at her Rotorua home. Photograph/supplied.

One of the women jailed over the violent death of Rotorua toddler Nia Glassie has had her third child removed from her care by Child, Youth and Family at birth.

Oriwa Kemp was 19 when she was jailed for her part in the cruel and brutal death of Nia in August 2007.

She was found guilty of assaulting the 3-year-old and sentenced to three years and four months in prison.

At the time Kemp had one child.

Oriwa Kemp in court over the death of Nia Glassie. Photograph/The Daily Post, Andrew Warner.
ROT
Oriwa Kemp in court over the death of Nia Glassie. Photograph/The Daily Post, Andrew Warner. ROT
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

The Herald on Sunday understands that since then she has given birth three times - with CYF taking the child from her immediately on each occasion.

Her fourth child was born recently.

CYF's Auckland family regional director Sharon Thom confirmed the birth, and that the baby had been taken into care soon after.

"We can confirm that Ms Kemp has no children in her care," Thom told the Herald on Sunday.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"We can also confirm that a baby born to Ms Kemp recently has been removed and is safe and doing well with a caregiver.

"Ms Kemp is well aware of the reasons why her children are not in her care."

The decisions to remove her children have been taken in the best interests of the children and with the co-operation of the family."

Decisions around the future care of Kemp's children will be overseen by the Family Court.

Discover more

New Zealand|crime

The short, tragic lives of Nia and Moko

18 May 05:00 PM
New Zealand|crime

Nia Glassie's mother recalled to prison

24 Aug 09:01 PM

Thom would not comment on the circumstances of the birth.

"It is not appropriate for us to go into any further detail regarding Ms Kemp or her children.

"Public interest is satisfied by releasing the above information which shows that Child, Youth and Family has taken the right steps to ensure Ms Kemp's children are safe and properly cared for."

Nia's death remains one of the worst child abuse cases in New Zealand history.

She died on August 3, 2007 from head injuries, 13 days after she was admitted to Starship Hospital and placed on life support.

040209aw4 Grave of murdered toddler Nia Glassie in Tokoroa. 04 February 2009 The Daily Post Picture by Andrew Warner. RDP 27Aug11 - MEMORIAL: The grave site of murdered Rotorua toddler Nia Glassi
040209aw4 Grave of murdered toddler Nia Glassie in Tokoroa. 04 February 2009 The Daily Post Picture by Andrew Warner. RDP 27Aug11 - MEMORIAL: The grave site of murdered Rotorua toddler Nia Glassi

It later emerged that the toddler had been subjected to horrific ongoing abuse that shocked the country.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Kemp was in a relationship with Nia's cousin Michael Pearson at the time, and both were initially charged with manslaughter.

A jury found them not guilty of that charge, but guilty of assaulting the little girl.

The abuse was mainly perpetrated by Wiremu Curtis, the then-partner of Nia's mother Lisa Kuka, and his brother Michael.

Most of the abuse happened while Kuka was at work.

Lisa Kuka, mother of abused toddler Nia Glassie.  Daily Post photograph by Stephen Parker
Lisa Kuka, mother of abused toddler Nia Glassie. Daily Post photograph by Stephen Parker

After the fatal attack on Nia in July 2007, believed to be repeated kicks to her head, she was left for 33 hours before medical help was sought.

When she was admitted to Starship Nia's brain damage was so severe that she could no longer breathe for herself.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

A jury found the Curtis brothers guilty of Nia's murder.

Kuka was convicted of two counts of manslaughter - one for failing to provide Nia the necessaries of life and the other for failing to protect the child from violence, thereby causing her death.

In August the Herald revealed that Kuka had been recalled to prison after authorities became concerned she was a risk to the community's safety.

Kemp has not kept out of trouble since her release from prison.

In January she was convicted and discharged at the Manukau District Court for driving while forbidden.

She was also convicted and sentenced to 40 hours' community work for stealing a sweatshirt and a pair of boots from Hallensteins.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Child, Youth and Family removed 187 newborn babies from their mothers and placed them in care within 30 days of the birth in the 2015/16 year.

Save

    Share this article

Latest from New Zealand

New Zealand|crime

Probe into man who abused girl as he read her stories led to another sinister finding

19 Jun 07:00 AM
New Zealand

'Cheeky grin': Family, school mourn 6yo victim of Pātea boat tragedy

19 Jun 06:30 AM
New Zealand

From top to bottom: Gisborne slumps to last on economic scoreboard, locals still optimistic

19 Jun 06:00 AM

Jono and Ben brew up a tea-fuelled adventure in Sri Lanka

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from New Zealand

Probe into man who abused girl as he read her stories led to another sinister finding

Probe into man who abused girl as he read her stories led to another sinister finding

19 Jun 07:00 AM

William Seddon had a collection of child abuse images, said to have led to the assaults.

'Cheeky grin': Family, school mourn 6yo victim of Pātea boat tragedy

'Cheeky grin': Family, school mourn 6yo victim of Pātea boat tragedy

19 Jun 06:30 AM
From top to bottom: Gisborne slumps to last on economic scoreboard, locals still optimistic

From top to bottom: Gisborne slumps to last on economic scoreboard, locals still optimistic

19 Jun 06:00 AM
Rotorua chef denies arson of his own home

Rotorua chef denies arson of his own home

19 Jun 06:00 AM
Help for those helping hardest-hit
sponsored

Help for those helping hardest-hit

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