Ngatikaura Ngati was a New Zealand-Tongan toddler who died in of child abuse in January 2006. He is notable for the deliberate release of official autopsy photographs after his death and the subsequent distribution of those photographs on the internet. The controversy can be seen as an instance of the tension between the desire for privacy and respect for victims of family violence and the need for publicity to motivate changes in public attitudes to family violence.
Ngati had been fostered to a cousin of his birth mother and was being raised in a Tongan language environment until shortly after his third birthday when he was returned to his birth mother, at her request. Maine Annabella Ngati, her partner, Teusila Fa'asisila, and their other children only speak English. Within three months, Ngati was dead. Photos taken during the autopsy showed bruises from repeated beatings and weeping sores the size of a man's hand on his bottom.[1] Maine and Teusila were found not guilty of murder but guilty of the manslaughter,[2] each was sentenced to 6 and a half years in prison,[3] with a non-parole period that was reduced on appeal. Maine gave birth to another child while in custody.[4]
In an controversial move, a judge allowed the publishing of autopsy photos. After they were used in a television program broadcast on 6 August 2007 at 6pm on TV One, Children’s Commissioner Dr Cindy Kiro lodged a complaint with the Broadcasting Standards Authority, which was investigated, but not upheld.[5] Previous Commissioner Roger McClay said, however, the photos of Ngatikaura's battered body could only raise awareness of the "epidemic" of child abuse, which New Zealanders had not yet twigged.[6] Inspector Richard Middleton, who was involved in the original police case said publishing the photos could have a positive effect and help to prevent further abuse.[7]
The images were also circulated in an email sent by a protest group calling for tougher jail terms for child abusers,[8] with Kiro calling their use abhorrent.[9][10] Ngati's name (but not images) were used by Family First to advocate tougher sentences for child abuse[11] and to highlight female family violence perpetrators.[12] The images have also been used on placards.[13]
Some time later the photos appeared on NSFW internet shock sites.[14][15] Current Children’s Commissioner Dr Russell Wills said he was appalled at their use.[7] Despite the images being taken during a New Zealand autopsy, the images were a component of a DCMA complaint between shock sites lodged with Google.[16]
Ngati's name and images (mainly those of him before his return to his birth mother) have been widely used on anti child abuse campaigns and grass-roots activism.[17][18][19][20]