Footage of ‘MMA-style’ fights at juvenile justice facilities shocks New Zealand | New Zealand

New Zealand’s children’s minister has condemned “extremely disturbing” footage of children engaging in violent “MMA-style” fights as staff watched and filmed at a juvenile justice facility.

on tuesday, tv channel news broadcast Footage of two children fighting in state-owned Olanga Tamariki [child protective services] Facility in South Auckland. One of the boys was repeatedly beaten, kicked and pushed to the point that he could not stand. Meanwhile, the people gathered around shouted profanity and inflamed the boys.

Oranga Tamariki Deputy CEO Tusha Penny said: Wednesday radio interview The video was taken by the staff. Another staff member in the footage appears to be “supervising” the fight. Penney said the staff’s conduct was “totally unacceptable and inexcusable.”

She told Newshub that after the fight broke out, “four staff members working in the mansion were removed from any duties or interactions with the youths and children in Olanga Tamariki’s care.” said.

Children’s Minister Kelvin Davis said in an interview Wednesday that the footage was “extremely disturbing” and that the fact that there were officers in the room who were watching without intervening was “totally unacceptable.”

“Any adult who witnessed this event was disqualified,” he said. “If there were adults who didn’t intervene and didn’t say ‘this is wrong’, then there is no place for them in youth justice housing, as far as I know.”

New Zealand’s juvenile justice houses are supposed to care for, rehabilitate and educate children and teens involved in crime. They’ve been in the spotlight in recent months after staff were laid off. Prosecuted for ‘improper sexual conduct’ He assaulted minors in custody and, at one point, had an overnight standoff with police from the roof of the facility after multiple attempts by the children to flee the facility.

Ms Penny said the leadership of Oranga Tamariki admitted that “there were problems throughout the residence”. [As] To those depths? I don’t know at this stage. ”

A police investigation into the brawl is ongoing, but no charges have yet been filed. The government is also overhauling the culture of juvenile justice facilities, led by former Police Commissioner Mike Bush.