Hon Roger McClay
Commissioner for Children
14 February 2001

"Home Visits Again Might Be The Answer Suggest Commissioner"

"It is time to look at emulating our practices of the past," said Roger McClay, Commissioner for Children to the Vigil at the "Maternity" statue in Upper Hutt tonight.

Mr McClay was speaking as he had intended to this Friday at the Court House in Wellington.

He suggested that home visits by health and Plunket nurses had in the past ensured more awareness of domestic stress before calamities occurred.

Mr McClay said that in the 10 year period 86–95, 60% of the 31 infant homicides had been perpetrated by parents. "Home visits could be reinstituted again in a small country like New Zealand," he said.

The Upper Hutt Vigil was called especially on Valentine’s Day and follows the brutal slaying of Tracey Patmore and many other recent homicides around New Zealand.

Office of the Commissioner for Children Level 12, 86-90 Lambton Quay PO Box 5610 Lambton Quay WELLINGTON

phone: 4711 410 phone fax: 4711 418 fax

email: children@occ.org.nz email

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