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The Chief Executive
Christchurch City Council
Dear Sir,
Sexual Abuse of Children in
Day Care Centres.
As a result of the publicity and
public concern that has arisen since the allegations of sexual abuse of
children by a staff member in the Civic Cr่che this Office has decided to
gather material, both local and overseas, related to studies into abuse of
children in day care and pre-schools and into employment policies and
standards.
It is likely that we will
produce a report with recommendations intended for general use in New
Zealand.
I believe your council has
contracted a local therapist, Rosemary Smart, to undertake a similar
exercise for local purposes.
It might be useful for Ms Smart
and myself to share our ideas and background information and I wonder if
you would have any objections to my getting in touch with her for this
purpose?
I would be grateful to be given
a contact address for Ms Smart or to have you speak with her on my behalf
and have her contact me if she is willing to be in touch with me.
Yours sincerely
Beth Wood
(Community Relations Officer)
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W H Wealleans
Christchurch
Dear Sir
1. Your request by fax today to my office
for information with reference to a Christchurch City Council request dated
1/2/94 (enclosed).
Neither I nor Ms Wood nor any
other member of my staff to my knowledge have seen Ms Smart's report or any
notes or drafts of it. Nor do we have any notes pertaining to the
preparation of that report. I understood that my staff had conveyed that
state of affairs to the Chrsitchurch City Council following the receipt of
the request dated 1/2/94 and I considered that to have been a sufficient
response to that request.
The enclosed letter dated April
29 1992 from Ms Wood to the Chief Executive, Christchurch City Council and
the response dated 11 May appear to be the sum of what we hold that
mentions Ms Smart and although they do not in my opinion conform to the
description of information sought in the letter to my office of 1/2/94
others may have a different opinion and I can see no reason not to let you
have them. Following receipt of the letter of 11 May Ms Wood recalls a
telephone conversation with Ms Smart initiated by Ms Smart in which they
discussed published papers known to them on the subject of child abuse in
day care centres. Following this Ms Wood sent two papers as she recalls
which I enclose with this letter.
2. Your request by fax today for information
under the Official Information Act 1982.
I enclose a copy of the
complainant's concerns as requested.
Yours sincerely
IB Hassall
Commissioner for Children
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