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NZ educator admits to possessing child exploitation material
Freya Lucas
Feb 05, 2025
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Before engaging with this piece readers of The Sector should be aware that it discusses the abuse of children, and should consider their wellbeing and capacity to engage. A list of support services has been provided at the conclusion of the story.
A 22 year old woman, who had been working in a relief capacity for early childhood services in New Zealand’s Bay of Plenty region, has admitted to having nearly 400 videos containing child exploitation material which had been accessed through encrypted social media apps.The young woman reportedly told police that she has “a serious addiction to disgusting things” after she was found with the videos, 298 of which were classed in the most serious category for this type of material.
All told, police discovered a total of 602 sexual videos on her devices, of which 390 were examined and deemed objectionable.
There is currently no suggestion that any of the images she possessed involved children she knew or had contact with through her work. The content was uncovered as part of an FBI investigation in Arkansas, United States, which targeted a person the woman was in contact with over encrypted social media apps Telegram and Wire.
While having conversations on these apps, the pair also exchanged child sexual abuse material.
The woman was arrested in October 2024, whilst at work in a Mount Maunganui early learning service, local news source NZ Herald reported. Six electronic devices were seized in a search of her home, with police finding multiple videos and images on two iPhones which had been accessed through encrypted social media apps Telegram, Wire, Wickr Me and Kik.
The young woman recently appeared in the Tauranga District Court where she pleaded guilty to four representative charges of possessing objectionable material involving child exploitation.
To access the original coverage of this story please see here.
If you believe that a child is in imminent danger or in need of medical assistance, call Police or Ambulance services on 000.
If you are feeling distressed, are worried about someone or would like someone to talk to, you can contact:
- Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800 or www.kidshelp.com.au
- Headspace on 1800 650 890 or www.headspace.org.au
- Lifeline Australia on 13 11 14 or www.lifeline.org.au
- Bravehearts counselling and support for survivors of child sexual abuse on 1800 272 831 or www.bravehearts.org.au
- Care Leavers Australasia Network (CLAN) on 1800 008 774 or www.clan.org.au
- PartnerSPEAK (peer support for non-offending partners and families of perpetrators of child sexual abuse) on 03 9018 7872 or www.partnerspeak.org.au
- 1800 RESPECT national sexual assault, domestic and family violence counselling service on 1800 737 732 or www.1800respect.org.au
- MensLine Australia on 1300 78 99 78 or www.mensline.org.au
- Men’s Referral Service on 1300 766 491 or www.ntv.org.au
- Relationships Australia on 1300 364 277 or www.relationships.org.au
For information about relevant support services and other resources, you can contact:
- Healing Foundation on 02 6272 7500 or www.healingfoundation.org.au
- People With Disability Australia on 1800 422 015 or www.pwd.org.au
- Children and Young People with Disability Australia on 1800 222 660 or www.cyda.org.au
For additional helplines and counselling services for children, young people and parents, Australia-wide and by state and territory, see this resource sheet developed by the Australian Institute of Family Studies.
For additional counselling and support services for parents, see Parentline counselling services in each state and territory.
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