A man has been sentenced to four years and five months' imprisonment for the manslaughter of his baby daughter last year.
Photo: RNZ / Dan Cook
Maree Takuira Mita Ngahere was less than four weeks old when she was found dead from head injuries at her home in Kaitaia on 19 February last year.
Her 24-year-old father, Jahcey Ngahere, was sentenced for her manslaughter in the High Court at Whangarei today.
In a statement, Detective Inspector Lloyd Schmid said Maree suffered traumatic injuries before her death, which has greatly impacted the people of Kaitaia.
"The death of any person is a tragic event, but when it is an infant as young as four weeks old it is simply senseless."
Schmid said the community and police had no tolerance for harm inflicted on tamariki.