Memorial to Tanya Burr, 1981-2002

Aspects of Serious Youth Crime in New Zealand in September 2002

(Part One)

It took a while to catch up with big news events in New Zealand after we returned from Norway. For a start, we had been planning our trip for months. So other things that did not directly affect us, had not really been of very great interest to us - unless they involved plane fares, plane crashes or things likely to cause plane crashes. 

It was only after Tanya's death and the shock of the following couple of weeks that I started noticing that references to Tanya's death also contained references to other recent murders by young people of around the same age as Wharekura. At the time it seemed like an epidemic.

There is no way for me to know whether Wharekura sat around in the days immediately before Tanya's death, admiring radio  and TV News reports of the handiwork of others of his age group and how they were now 'famous' - or more correctly 'infamous' - for having killed. I know he looked at one newspaper about four days before he killed Tanya. This was because he was interviewed for it and his photo appeared there also. Thus one week he appeared in the media discussing the pros and cons of flouridating Rotorua's water supply - and the next week he was the rather more 'famous' anonymous murderer of my daughter.

What we do know, though, is that it became common gossip in Rotorua (and of course we soon learned this in Palmerston North from two totally different and unrelated channels) that Wharekura had been bragging about wanting to experience the act of killing someone. At the time, he supposedly had no idea Tanya was even on the same planet!

The following is probably one of the clearest (online media) articles outlining what I referred to above. It was written four days after Tanya's death. Note that Daniel Luff's victim, Duncan Taylor, is buried about 10-15 metres from Tanya and the judge who sentenced Wharekura used case law from that sentencing to reduce Wharekura's non-parole time by three years!! 

Then Wharekura's sentencing was delayed a couple of times as the judge wanted to hear the outcomes of appeals in the Choy and Pigott cases - but still ended up sentencing him before those decisions were released. 

Another murder, which received considerably less national publicity than the others, occurred only a week before Tanya's death. The street-bashing and death several days later of Richard Harcombe, aged 18, took place in Whangarei. The irony is that this means that in the space of a week, four 16-year-old Whangarei boys had attacked and killed. Given how few high schools there are in Whangarei, perhaps Wharekura and Harcombe's three killers already knew each other when two of the three and Wharekura all met up at Kingslea Youth Justice Centre, Christchurch, a few days later. 

So these unrelated murders from all around the North Island, ended up mixed together. Tanya was the only female victim - and the only one theoretically in a completely safe non-public environment - namely her home.

Big News: When Will The Killings End?

Source: scoop.co.nz - Thursday, 19 September 2002, 11:27 am. Column: Dave Crampton

The recent sentencing of 17-year-old Daniel Luff for the murder of one police officer with a stolen gun and attempted murder of another while on bail on firearms charges is concerning enough without learning his self-indulgent mother was a drug addict, and in and out of prison for drug abuse. Luff never knew his drug addicted father, who left shortly after his son was born.

He may have not even known that he spent the past 10 weeks in the same prison as his dad, who is doing time for petty crime. Its probably the closest he has been to his dad for 17 years.

It was a culmination of a pretty bad few days: On Sunday a teenager allegedly killed Tanya Burr in Rotorua, and on Monday six teenagers were imprisoned for killing Michael Choy – two of them brothers. The following day the teenager suspected of Burr’s murder was formally charged. On Wednesday Daniel Luff was given 17 years before being eligible for parole thanks to the new sentencing and parole legislation which provides 17 years non parole for the worst crimes. Last week 14-year-old Kararaina Te Rauna was given 8 years and 9 months jail for the manslaughter of Kenneth Pigott, and last month Ese Junior Falealii, 18, was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murders of pizza deliverer Marcus Doig and bank worker John Vaughan. 

In just over a month 10 teenagers have been put behind bars for murder or manslaughter with three more yet to be sentenced. Incidentally, all but one, possibly two (Note: Wharekura's name had not then been released - he is Maori also), were either Maori or Samoan and raised by dysfunctional families. Imagine the difference two good parents would have made in the lives of these kids.

Nobody, not even (Minister of Social Services and Palmerston North MP) Steve Maharey, will now say solo parent families are “doing ok” and two parent families are history. In the case of Daniel Luff, it was the family of his former girlfriend that provided the security that was missing with his own mother. When his relationship split, so did the secure environment he felt welcome in. Now he’s living in a very secure environment – but not the kind he was looking for.

It’s no secret that this country’s youngest convicted killer, 13-year-old BJ Kurariki, will be eligible for parole in less then 18 months. The current sentencing laws water sentences down and water parole laws down even further. But now a judge legally has to give written reasons for sentencing murderers to a sentence less than life, when previously those charged with murder received mandatory life sentences. 

Kurariki’s mother was among the 20 percent of Maori women who have the responsibility of being a solo parent – and most likely on an income less than $20,000. Kurariki could be free to commence his correspondence schooling before he is 15 - unless a school is willing to take him. He may be released as he is not a threat to the community, but if he is not rehabilitated, he will still able deemed one of the 60 percent of those registered with the correspondence school that are deemed to be “at risk” – which is why many are registered with the school in the first place.

If such kids had functional families who cared about their kids in the first place, most of these teenagers would be attending school and getting an education like anybody else. It is not known how many of those in dysfunctional families are encouraging at risk kids to complete their schooling. Kurariki’s mother is relieved of her 13-year-year old for at least 18 months – but when her son is eligible for parole the whole saga will resurface… affecting families of the victims and the accused – or what’s left of them.

MIichael Choy's mother Rita Croskery intends to attend every parole board hearing. All offenders will have the right to stay throughout any parole hearing, and to get the full reasoning for a decision. Victims such as Mrs Croskery can only present their submissions, they do not get a copy of any Parole Board decision. They will be told about conditions only to the extent the Parole Board thinks they are relevant to the victim. Any prisoner will get a copy of the decision irregardless. Is that justice? You decide. If prisoners are not rehabilitated, but are not deemed to be a threat to the safety of the community – they are released. Yet there is no definition of the term “safety of the community” in our parole laws.

Surely the Government, who claim to be so family friendly, should be concerned for the rights of families who have lost loved ones to kid killers, most from dysfunctional families. At the very least they should be allowed to attend court to see the murderer of their relative or offspring (Note: That could be a reference to the Porirua Youth Courth judge refusing my family access to the courtroom the previous morning - a fact that was then covered in the media). Functional families and good parenting should be promoted rather than passing laws that make it easier for solo parents to remain on welfare for longer.

Former Police officer Duncan Taylor's wife is now a solo mum with a one month old baby (actually he was then 11 months old). Two parent families – or at least functional families, should be promoted above all else. At the end of the day, we all want kids to stop killing. Rehabilitation, perhaps within sentencing, may achieve that for current prisoners – but what will be achieved in 18 months for a 13 year old? Will Kurariki reoffend while on parole? Will there be measures to prevent others from killing?

Only time will tell.

Editorial: Children who turn to killing

Waikato Times,  Hamilton: Sep 19, 2002 .  pg. 6

The year 2002 will go down in history in New Zealand as the year of the child killer. Earlier this week the country's youngest killer, 13-year-old Bailey Kurariki, was jailed on a manslaughter charge. His associates in the killing of pizza delivery worker Michael Choy were aged 15, 16 and 17.

Last week three 16-year-olds were charged with murder following the street robbery and bashing of a youth in Whangarei, and 14-year- old girls were involved in the killing of Waitara man Kenneth Pigott.

The terrible run continued this week when a 16-year-old was charged with the murder of Rotorua woman Tanya Burr and yesterday, in a Palmerston North court, 17-year-old Daniel Luff was sentenced to 17 years' prison for killing policeman Duncan Taylor.

The stories are the same. The killings were brutal and pointless and involved chance encounters with people going about their lawful business. Victim Michael Choy was delivering pizzas, Kenneth Pigott was sleeping off a night on the town, Richard Harcombe was on an early morning walk home. Tanya Burr had just arrived home after a holiday in Europe, Duncan Taylor was out with a colleague investigating a burglary. None would have anticipated the young people they were about to encounter would end their lives.

Friends, family and colleagues of the victims -- and the New Zealand public -- are desperately trying to understand what turns youngsters into killers. There are a host of reasons. Drug and alcohol abuse is a common factor. Add to that too much free time, peer pressure, abuse or exposure to violence in the home and lack of parental control. It is a deadly mix.

At the sentencing of Daniel Luff yesterday, Justice Young laid some of the blame at the feet of Luff's parents. He condemned their "self-indulgent and neglectful lives", noting they were both opiate addicts.

Daniel Luff's father, a repeat offender with gang connections, has spent his life in and out of jail. Daniel spent his younger years being shunted around family and foster homes.

Any parent has a duty to bring up their children to be responsible members of society. Daniel Luff's parents failed him. The upshot is a police officer shot dead, another wounded and a young man behind bars for 17 years.

Young people today have access to alcohol, drugs, vehicles and firearms. They are drinking more, and more often, since the drinking age was lowered in 1999. Cannabis use is also up with one study this year showing three times as many fifth formers smoked cannabis as in 1987.

Combine those influences with personal and emotional problems and the results are tragic -- this year alone, five innocent people dead. New Zealand must address the issues that have led to this frightening toll. It is the country's highest priority.

From: http://citylibrary.pncc.govt.nz/info2go.html - PN City Library, library members' news database

And from another angle published the same day...

Youth court judge says no skyrocketing crime problem

NZ Herald - 19 September 2002

Despite perceptions to the contrary, serious and violent offending by teenagers in New Zealand is not skyrocketing, says Principal Youth Court Judge Andrew Becroft.

The judge says, however, that more work is needed to ensure troublesome teenagers receive help sooner.

"The most recent figures show that police apprehensions for under 17-year-olds last year decreased, numbers in the youth court decreased. Serious offences transferred to the District and High Court decreased," Judge Becroft told National Radio this morning.

"Overall there is room for cautious optimism."

Judge Becroft's comments follow yesterday's sentencing of Daniel Luff, 17, for the murder of Detective Constable Duncan Taylor and the attempted murder of Detective Jeanette Park in July. Luff was jailed for 17 years.

A 16-year-old appeared in Porirua Youth Court yesterday charged with the murder of Rotorua woman Tanya Burr.

Earlier this week six teenagers were jailed for the bashing to death of pizza delivery work Michael Choy last year.

In some areas and parts of New Zealand statistics showed a significant reduction in youth crime, Judge Becroft said.

"I think overall the youth justice system is not showing a skyrocketing problem with youth offending."

There were some areas in New Zealand where government and local groups were working together better to reduce youth offending.

"It's to do with regular meetings, regular co-operation, inventive programmes and early intervention," Judge Becroft said.

However, there was a clear feeling, especially within Police youth aid that violent offending was starting at an early age.

And one suggesting answers several weeks earlier - the day after Tanya's Contiki trip began...

Principal wants more social workers

TV1 News - Aug 26, 2002

The principal of an east Christchurch school is calling for more social workers in schools to help prevent young offenders growing up to become criminals.

His comment follow last weekend's conviction of six teenagers, including one 13-year-old, for the killing of pizza delivery man, Michael Choy, and the start of a trial involving three 14 year-old girls killing Kenneth Pigott.

A 14-year-old Waitara girl has pleaded guilty to Pigott's manslaughter.

Jack Morris, the principal of Wainoni School which is at the bottom of the socio-economic scale, says 20 years ago, community welfare officers had easy access to children and their families, but now it can take a serious offence to initiate that contact.

Morris says that social workers need to be able to make families work with them, rather than the less effective voluntary system that many work under.

He adds that schools and social workers need to work harder with young offenders, and ensure that Family group conference plans are implemented.

The space bars shown on this and subsequent pages are a handcuffed Wharekura (at left) and his two CYFS handlers entering Rotorua Airport Terminal en route to the Depositions Hearing in November 2002. The page's background was found as a photo on the internet, and it was then adapted for use here.

Most newspaper sources used here and on subsequent pages were obtained from the NZ Herald's online archive.