'Manipulative, evil woman' should stop making excuses - Paula Bennett

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Thu, 22 Dec 2011 8:59a.m.

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett

Social Development Minister Paula Bennet is refuting claims made by a mother who abused her two children that the Government failed her.

Ms Bennett says she finds it ‘incredulous’ that the woman is using the Government as an excuse for beating her children.

“This is a manipulative, evil woman,” Bennett says, speaking to Firstline this morning.

“She was getting counselling, she had 13 different agencies going into that home, what she was doing though was putting all of the attention on herself instead of actually the attention that perhaps should have been going on those children.”

Labour calls for change to child protection laws
Abusive mother claims CYF, Govt failed her

Ms Bennett says an inquiry into the case has made 13 recommendations for changes – but stresses that it is unusual for such an inquiry to take place, which shows what a unique case this is.

“We did it because this is just so horrific and so extreme,” she says.

“I certainly acknowledge that they were in an unsafe, in fact dangerous environment, and that absolutely breaks my heart.”

Paula Bennett spoke to Firstline this morning. Click ‘view video’ to watch the interview.

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Comments

14 Jan 2012 08:35a.m.

James J.REad wrote:

If it was easier for the media to name women such as this publicly, a great change might occur.Children would be safer if these bad parents knew that the community was watching them and would report suspicious behaviour.

11 Jan 2012 03:51p.m.

Kev wrote:

Bennett should step down for failure.This should allready be raised in parliament.Perhaps we should also bring to the public attention just what qualifications or lack of,do Winz staffers have & why they dont take resposability for there failed decision making.

29 Dec 2011 06:48a.m.

accsux wrote:

'Manipulative, evil woman' should stop making excuses. yes paula... bennet .. you should.. Its an oldy but a goodie. but nothing new. Powerful Men like her hav been abusing that filthily bullying tactic . for generation after generation. and now woman too hav become the abusers, once they got that same power.

24 Dec 2011 05:30p.m.

key wrote:

Take responsibility Bennett , CYFS ,and you are in charge, are a failiure, take a hit on the chin, Gaps? more like chasms.

24 Dec 2011 03:42p.m.

TWE wrote:

Considering how badly behaved the girl was, CYFS probably put her in the 'too hard' basket instead of actually trying to do anything for her. CYFS seem to do more damage than the parents that they snatch the kids from in the first place.

23 Dec 2011 04:21p.m.

pondering wrote:

@Tom. The mother has admitted her part. It is the tax payer funded "professionals" that ignored the fecal smearing , fire starting , sexual and physical assualts on younger siblings, extremem self harm , intelectual disabilities and serious extreme behaviour problems the child and parents were facing after she was horrifically abused in CYF care for years; that people are railing at. And at CYF who let it all happen for years on end to this kid and so many others. @ Jonno at the moment that is what is happening to single mother homes. CYF are going in an seizing kids for no good reason other than having one female parent in your home is a considered a high risk for emotional abuse due to the poverty of living on 1 income and mother having had a relationshp breakdown / escaped your abusive father to protect you. These kids are then subjected to the same horrific abuse the girl above was in her CYF home. They come in to these womens homes and make up anything they like.

23 Dec 2011 02:25p.m.

james wrote:

How hard would it have been for paula benefit to hand over this letter to the ceo of winz and get him/her to delegate someone to look at this child abuse. Not much a 5 minute phone call and a fax. This government does not care about the poor children of this country, unless it becomes a national headline and middle new zealand hears about it. Shame on you paula

23 Dec 2011 09:17a.m.

Tom wrote:

Agree. All you hear since this case is that its "somebody else's" fault never the mothers, take some god dam responsibility for your own actions, stop blaming other people and if you can't handle children don't bloody have them in the first place!

23 Dec 2011 08:37a.m.

jonno wrote:

so we all complain about whats happend here ,are we all prepared to allow govt agencies to come into every parents homes , complaint or NO complaint for a snoop around without notice to check on children?.that would be "invasion of privacy" i hear you yell. "we have rights " i hear you say. "its big brother". well...theres no cure then .anyone who is a child carer ..parent or otherwise, should expect cyfs to knock on there door anytime for the regular check up of the child and speak with the child. the stigma associated with cyfs will be gone, as its "protocol" . sad....but unfortunetly its the way this country is behaving that we need that to happen. if you love your children and you know the checkup is for there well being, then whats wrong with that. its no diff from plunket check ups. now we should ALL get regular cyfs checkups. and hey, if you pass, maybe you get a bonus in child support.

22 Dec 2011 10:16p.m.

sue wrote:

I agree with 'wondering' How can so many people be ' involved' and do nothing? People have to have the guts to stand up and be counted, every visit, every child. I despair at those who tick the boxes of 'done something' when in fact the client is falling through the cracks. Too many are covering their ass instead of asking themselves ' is this acceptable?' Please make this your wake up call all those who were involved. Did you truely do the best for your client? Not did I just follow the rules?