Northland man admits to accessing illegal material for 20 years
23 October 2025
A Northland man was sentenced yesterday to two and half year's imprisonment following an investigation by the Department of Internal Affairs Te Tari Taiwhenua’s Digital Child Exploitation Team.
The 52-year-old pled guilty in the Whangarei District Court to one representative charge for possessing objectionable material depicting the sexual exploitation and abuse of children.
During a search warrant at his residence on 21 May 2024, he admitted to the offending. He also stated he had been viewing child sexual exploitation and bestiality material for approximately 20 years, driven by what he described as a ‘morbid fascination’.
Multiple electronic devices from his home address were seized for examination, with over 3000 objectionable images and videos found on hard drives inside his computer. The victims who were subjected to the recorded exploitation and abuse were of all ages, ranging from babies to people under the age of 16.
As part of his sentence, the offender is to be registered as a child sex offender and for all electronic devices used during the offending to be destroyed.
“Every time an offender shares or accesses an image or video of child abuse, they are continuing the abuse of that child and exacerbating the threat of child sexual exploitation” says Tim Houston, Manager Digital Child Exploitation Team.
In 2024, the Digital Child Exploitation team conducted 69 investigations into child exploitation and helped to safeguard 14 New Zealand children from harm. Additionally, the Digital Child Exploitation Filtering System blocked over one million 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. Advice and support for parents and caregivers on protecting their 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/child-abuse-directory-information-and-support
- 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
Department of Internal Affairs | Te Tari Taiwhenua
Mobile: +64 27 535 8639
Email: media@dia.govt.nz
