Sunday, August 05, 2007

Cindy Kiro's claims

From the Sunday Star Times Cindy Kiro claims, in an interview with Steve Braunias;

"(But) of the 88 children killed between 2002 and 2006, 48 were Pakeha. Maori were 28. The remainder were Pacific Island and a few Asian."

In the context of the interview which was, as you would expect, about child abuse, thus deaths from maltreatment, you would expect her to quote relevant figures.

In the five years to 2003 38 children died as a result of maltreatment. From 93-98 fifty. Here are the facts;


Children killed per 100,000 aged 0-14

1991-2000
Non-Maori - 0.67
Maori - 2.40
Total - 1.07

2001-2005
Non-Maori - 0.60
Maori - 1.34
Total - 0.79

Source: Mike Doolan, Canterbury University.

The rates are falling. The 0-14 population has been steady since around 1994. Unless 2006 was an aberration her figures cannot be right. Now why would she produce such inflated figures?

4 comments:

mojo said...

So, number up but rate decreasing.
& why the exaggeration?
Lindsay there are a surprising number of professionals who absolutely believe in this greater intrusion in family life as a 'cure all,' as a means of imposing their beliefs, their sense of normal,their conception of child rearing on all.
I guess it has also gained greater impetus from a failing education system- the social factory if you like is in decline.

Anonymous said...

To answer your question - She has an agenda.

It is not only the deaths that are important, but also the physically and mentally maimed children. I would like to see figures for the number of children taken to hospital where the injuries are suspected to have been caused by care-givers or parents. I think we would be shocked to the core.

Don Boese said...

Cindy Kiro has even come out and dammed the email curulating with the pictures of the battered and murdered 3 year old boy quote "However Children's Commissioner Cindy Kiro says it is disgusting the pictures are being used in this way. She says the dead child deserves to be left in peace and with respect."
What a load of complete rubbish..we should be sending email pictures of all battered children to all New Zealanders so that it would be a great wake up call..

waimarie said...

Lindsay, I'd like to know what your agenda is in relation to Cindy Kiro and her claims. She has used physical numbers in her article to differentiate Maori, Pakeha and other ethnicities who have abused their children causing death. However you obviously prefer to work in percentages which do show Maori in such a poor light. So, answer me this. If the number of Pakeha child abuse cases resulting in death are higher than that of Maori, why is it that the general public have not heard of any of these deaths? You appear to do your best to slam people like Cindy Kiro. What then is your agenda? Instead of making such derogatory comments, how about doing something more constructive which will make the Govt stand up and take notice that this is a national problem which needs to be addressed. Teh Govt have offered 40 odd million to aid the next America's cup. How is this beneficial to New Zealanders? They spend all day in Parliament slamming each other ... John Keyes being the latest victim ... how is this beneficial to New Zealanders and the issue of Children dying through child abuse and neglect? Come on Lindsay. Join the fight against the cause ... not against a fellow campaigner who is only after what we all want .. to stop the suffering of our children.