A 46-year-old man from Hawke’s Bay has been arrested and charged following an investigation into alleged indecent communication with a young teenage girl.
The man, who was apprehended on Friday, October 4, is facing multiple charges, including three counts of indecent communication with a person under 16 and one charge of travelling to meet a young person for the purposes of sex grooming.
The arrest was made after a joint investigation by Hawke’s Bay Police and OCEANZ (Online Child Exploitation Across New Zealand). Detective Sergeant Alex Macdonald stated that OCEANZ received information suggesting the man had been attempting to contact young girls with the intent to commit sexual abuse.
“This type of offending in our communities is deeply concerning,” said Detective Sergeant Macdonald. “It highlights the importance of maintaining vigilance around online safety, especially for children and young people.”
Macdonald also said there was a need for parents to use the current school holidays as an opportunity to discuss online safety with their children. Resources to assist with these conversations are available on the Police website.
The accused was scheduled to appear in Hastings District Court today.
Detective Senior Sergeant John McCarthy, from the Hawke’s Bay Police Child Protection Team, stated that the investigation is ongoing, and authorities are not ruling out the possibility of identifying additional victims.
“We will continue to collaborate with OCEANZ to ensure that those targeting young people are held accountable for their actions,” said McCarthy. He also encouraged anyone with concerns about criminal behavior directed at children to contact the police for investigation.”
