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Christel Yardley/Stuff
The man was charged with alleged offending against four youths (file photo)
A 34-year-old man has been arrested and charged with allegedly performing indecent acts on a young person and indecent communication with a young person in state care.
According to police, they arrested the man on Wednesday in a joint operation with Oranga Tamariki.
He was charged in relation to alleged offending against four youths in an Oranga Tamariki residence during May and June 2023.
The man was arrested by Wellington police officers.
Oranga Tamariki Deputy Chief Executive Mike Bush said they were aware of the recent police charges.
“We have been assisting police with their investigations.”
The man is set to appear in Hutt Valley District Court in mid-September.
In June, Children’s Minister Kelvin Davis said concerns about abuse in state care would be investigated, following a raft of complaints around alleged sexual misconduct.
Former police commissioner Mike Bush was hired to investigate the allegations and any other concerns relating to OT residences.
ROBERT KITCHIN/Stuff
Oranga Tamariki Deputy Chief Executive Mike Bush (left) has been reviewing all OT residences (file photo)
The 34-year-old man’s charges come less than two weeks after two OT staff members appeared in court, over allegedly organising fights at a secure youth facility.
In June, Children’s Commissioner Judge Frances Eivers welcomed the investigation launched by OT, but said she was extremely disappointed to learn of the harm that has come to mokopuna in state care.
“In my view the recent events are an outcome of the residences not receiving the focus, oversight, or resourcing that mokopuna deserve”, Eivers said at the time.
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