Photo: RNZ / Dan Cook
A Tauranga man has been sentenced to seven months' home detention for possessing extreme child sexual exploitation material.
The man, who has been granted permanent name suppression, was charged with the possession of 374 images and videos depicting the horrific and extreme sexual abuse and exploitation of children, including very young children and babies.
He pled guilty to two representative charges relating to knowingly possessing objectionable material depicting the sexual exploitation and abuse of children.
Law enforcement agencies overseas alerted the Department of Internal Affairs' Digital Child Exploitation Team (DCET) to a New Zealand-based person making claims of abusing children and having access to child sexual abuse material.
The investigation identified the man as the potential perpetrator and a search warrant was executed at his home, where investigators found and seized multiple electronic devices.
However, it was confirmed none of the images or videos were taken by the offender.
DCET manager Tim Houston said no child should ever be put in a position like this or be revictimised every time images of their abuse were distributed, shared or viewed.
"Child sexual exploitation material depicts real children who have had real harm perpetrated against them. These images depict a real crime scene."
In 2023, the team conducted 47 investigations into child exploitation, resulting in the discovery of almost three million pieces of illegal material possessed by New Zealanders. This was in addition to more than one million attempts to access websites hosting child sexual abuse material that were blocked by the digital child exploitation filtering system.
Where to get help:
Victim Support 0800 842 846
Rape Crisis 0800 88 33 00
HELP Call 24/7 (Auckland): 09 623 1700, (Wellington): 04 801 6655 - push 0 at the menu
Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) 022 344 0496
If it is an emergency and you feel like you or someone else is at risk, call 111.