DIA brings first-time possession offender to justice

19 August 2026

A 27-year-old Auckland man has been sentenced to six months’ community detention and 12 months’ intensive supervision yesterday (18 August 2026) for his possession of child sexual exploitation material, following an investigation by the Department of Internal Affairs’ Digital Child Exploitation Team.

Luke Joseph Xavier Smith pled guilty to one charge in the Auckland District Court related to the downloading of files which depicted the extreme sexual abuse of female children. Smith downloaded the objectionable material using a file-sharing application, which made the files accessible to other users.

A search warrant of Smith’s home in December 2024 uncovered the device storing the material. The Department’s Investigators seized the computer, and forensic analysis identified 30 objectionable files, predominantly depicting the sexual abuse of female children by adult males.

Smith admitted to saving the imagery depicting the sexual abuse and exploitation of children and stated he “did not know why he downloaded them.”

“There is no such thing as a minor offence when it comes to child sexual exploitation material. Every file represents harm, and we will take all available actions to identify offenders and bring them before the Courts,” says Tim Houston, Manager Digital Child Exploitation Team.

The devices used by Smith to store the child sexual exploitation material were ordered to be destroyed. He was not required to register as a Child Sex Offender.

About Department of Internal Affairs’ Digital Child Exploitation Team

In 2025, the Digital Child Exploitation team conducted 52 search warrants for offences relating to online child sexual exploitation and helped to safeguard 24 New Zealand children from harm. Additionally, the Digital Child Exploitation Filtering System blocked close to 700,000 attempts to access websites hosting child sexual abuse material.

ENDS

Support and Resources
Parents and caregivers are encouraged to engage with their tamariki about safe online practices. Guidance on protecting children online is available at KeepItRealOnline.govt.nz.
If you have concerns about potential online harm or wish to report a crime, contact the Digital Child Exploitation Team at DIA. For situations where abuse is occurring or a child is in immediate danger, contact the Police at 111.

• Victims of child or sexual abuse crimes can access help and support services by contacting: https://www.kidshealth.org.nz/topics/child-protection
• Safe to Talk: 0800 044 334 Text 4334 

If you are concerned about your own or someone else’s sexual behaviour, please reach out for support: 

• Safe Network: 09 377 9898 
• WellStop: 04 566 4745 
• STOP: 03 353 0257 
• Stand Strong, Walk Tall 

Notes for media:
DIA uses the term child sexual abuse imagery (PDF, 625KB). The term child pornography downplays the harm of child sexual abuse

For more information on the role of the Digital Child Exploitation Team, what is online child sexual exploitation and how to report it visit https://www.dia.govt.nz/Preventing-Online-Child-Sexual-Exploitation

Media Contact:
Media Desk - Te Tari Taiwhenua Department of Internal Affairs
Mobile: +64 27 535 8639
Email: media@dia.govt.nz