Every five weeks, on average, a New Zealand child is murdered—most often by their own parent or caregiver. The true number may be even higher, hidden under the label of “accidental” deaths. And yet, the punishment in many of these cases is anything but just. Cultural, legal, and bureaucratic complexities mean that many of these killers walk free after serving shockingly light sentences. Where’s the public outrage? Where’s the deterrent?
Now compare this with the killing of sea lions in The Catlins. A baby sea lion was shot and left to die last September. Her mother, Jade, was shot the next month. A third young female, discovered in November, had been stabbed and later euthanised due to the severity of her injuries. These were horrific, violent acts—and rightly, the public is appalled.
So appalled, in fact, that a $12,000 reward has been raised to find the culprits.
Let that sink in: New Zealanders are now more likely to see justice for a sea lion pup than for a murdered child. The Department of Conservation and community volunteers are rallying around these animals with tears and money. But when it comes to our children, the silence is deafening. There’s no national reward system. No sustained public pressure for justice reform. No equivalent outrage.
We should absolutely protect our endangered wildlife—but not at the cost of turning a blind eye to our most vulnerable humans. It’s not a question of either/or. It’s a question of priorities.
It’s time to ask ourselves—how did we get to a place where baby sea lions seem to matter more than baby New Zealanders?
eN-Zed 