417:
report his injuries to any relevant agencies. Following an investigation, the
Ministry stripped Abbey's Place of its operating license in early October 2022 after finding that it failed to meet operating requirements including conducting an internal review into Subecz's case, ensuring that the centre manager understood their obligations around child safety, and staff and board members' lack of training on dealing with child abuse.
374:. Poutasi criticised these organisations for ignoring people who raised concerns about Malachi's wellbeing and failing to report or act upon signs of abuse. Poutasi made 14 recommendations including requiring Oranga Tamariki to vet proposed carers in the event a solo parent is taken into custody and requiring professionals and services working with children to report suspected abuse to Oranga Tamariki.
284:
results of recent eye surgery. Since the photo appeared to show bruising on Subecz, she sent the photograph to Oranga
Tamariki but the social workers who examined it rejected her concerns of child abuse. Malachi subsequently found a lawyer who helped her apply for Subecz's custody. The Family Court hearing was originally scheduled for 1 November 2021 but was delayed after Barriball claimed to have
151:, New Zealand in November 2021. Barriball pleaded guilty to ill-treating a child and murder and was sentenced to at least 17 years imprisonment. Barriball's sister Sharon was also convicted of concealing evidence and sentenced to six months home detention. Subecz's murder attracted media coverage in New Zealand and led to two highly critical reviews of
266:
Barriball's defence lawyer Rachel Adams agreed that she should serve a sentence of life imprisonment, which carries a minimum period of imprisonment of 17 years. While
Pollett favoured 18-19 years, Adams advocated for 17 years. In addition, Sharon was sentenced to six months home detention for attempting to pervert the course of justice.
247:
informed
Barribball and her sister Sharon Barriball that they would be searching their property later that day. In an attempt to hide evidence, Sharon texted another person at the property and told her to hide Subecz's cloths. On 16 November 2021, Police found a suitcase with some of Subecz's clothes
203:
as punishment for soiling himself. As a result, the boy sustained severe burns including a deep 13cm blackened injury on his abdomen. Barriball considered taking Subecz to the hospital but decided against it due to her fear of her abuse being discovered. Five days after the shower incident, Barriball
334:
released a scathing report into Oranga
Tamariki's handling of Subecz's case. He described the department's response as "a litany of failures" and criticised Oranga Tamariki for not prioritising Malachi's welfare. In mid October 2022, Oranga Tamariki acknowledged that it had failed to act on at least
283:
lawyer, and Subecz's lawyer in an attempt to check on Subecz's well-being since her family was unaware of the child's whereabouts. In addition, Megan approached local police and Subecz's daycare centre. She subsequently obtained a photograph of Subecz from
Barriball under the pretext of checking the
211:
In addition to these assaults, Barriball also forced Subecz to stand for extended long periods and deprived him of food. Throughout
October 2021, she also left Subecz home alone for extended periods, returning in the morning. She also made several text messages to her partner Guri Dhillon ("Hunter")
191:
Staff at Abbey's Place
Childcare Centre, the Tauranga-based daycare centre that Subecz attended, eventually noticed significant injuries including blunt-force trauma injuries to his head, large swelling, a black eye. When questioned by staff, Barriball claimed that Subecz had fallen off a bike. When
187:
While in
Barriball's custody, Subecz was assaulted on a daily basis including striking him in the head, face, and body. When Subecz soiled himself, Barriball would punish him by stripping him naked and locking him outside or in a car. In one incident, Barriball grabbed Subecz by his hair and hit his
265:
High Court by Judge Paul
Davidson to a minimum period of 17 years imprisonment. The Court also heard nine victim impact statements from several relatives of Subecz including his aunt Helen Menzies, her husband Peter Menzies, and their 15-year old daughter. Both the Crown prosecutor Anna Pollett and
257:
reported that Barriball had pleaded guilty the previous week to a murder charge, two charges of ill-treating a child, and a single charge of injuring with intent to injure. In addition, Sharon pleaded guilty to a single charge of attempting to pervert the course of justice by removing evidence. The
167:
In June 2021, Malachi Subecz's biological mother Jasmine Cotter was imprisoned on drug charges. At the request of Cotter, Subecz was placed in the care of Michaela Barriball in September 2021. Barriball, who was unemployed, lived in a rented cabin on a section owned by her father Chris Barriball in
158:
Following Subecz's case, the New Zealand Government adopted several recommendations aimed at detecting child abuse but declined to institute mandatory reporting. In addition, three senior Oranga Tamariki staff working on Subecz's case were dismissed while the early childhood centre that he attended
416:
In July 2022, the Ministry of Education placed Abbey's Place Childcare Centre on a provisional license after identifying "procedural failures" in dealing with suspected abuse. This included breaching at least two licencing regulations by questioning Barriball about Subecz's injuries and failing to
357:
In early December 2022, a second independent report by former health official Dame Karen Poutasi into Oranga Tamariki and other agencies' handling of the Malachi case was released. In addition to Oranga Tamariki, her investigation examined the responses of other government departments and agencies
226:
On 1 November 2021, Barriball became upset after failing to find suitable accommodation for herself and Subecz. After being rebuffed by property managers, she lashed out and inflicted blunt force injuries on Subecz, causing him to suffer a seizure. After unsuccessfully attempting to revive Subecz,
196:, Abbey's Place staff members also asked Barriball about the suspected abuse, violating the daycare centre's own policy not to alert the caregiver if ill-treatment of a child is suspected. Despite photographing his injuries, Abbey's Place failed to report Subecz's injuries to the authorities.
394:
reported that the Government had accepted 9 of Poutasi's 14 recommendations including comparing medical records to gain a full picture of a child's health and promoting regular public awareness campaigns dealing with child abuse. However, the Government stated that it would consider the five
180:, Barriball also owned a horticultural labour supply company called "Hunter & Kayla," which was registered to her then-address. Tommy Kapai, the director of the Tauranga social agency Te Tuinga Whānau, claimed that Barriball received significant funds from several agencies including
339:
probation officer expressing concerns about Malachi's wellbeing. Davis also confirmed that Oranga Tamariki accepted the findings of the Ombudsman's report but delayed taking further action until a review of the Oranga Tamariki child care system had been completed. In response, the
407:
released a follow-up assessment to Poutasi's report. The assessment found that the child protection system had not improved since Subecz's death. Several contributing factors included limited staffing capability, limited resources and half of NGO reports not being followed upon.
969:
227:
Michaela and Chris Barriball called an ambulance. She told paramedics that Subecz had fallen over while getting dressed for school. Due to his serious injuries including a brain haemorrhage and substantial bruises across his body, Subecz was admitted to
849:
536:
212:
expressing her disdain for the child and wanting to kill him. According to Stuff, both Barriball's father Chris and Dhillon were aware of Barriball's abusive treatment of Subecz but did not intervene or seek medical attention for the child.
386:
also reported that Oranga Tamariki's Tauranga office, which oversaw Subecz's case, experienced high workload pressures, a high number of unallocated cases, inadequate site capacity, and significant burnout and stress among staff members.
420:
In December 2022, the Minister for Children Kelvin Davis confirmed that three of the senior staff working on Subecz's case were no longer working with the agency. Two of the individuals had resigned while a third had been dismissed.
298:
In December 2022, Subecz's mother issued a statement following the release of Dame Karen Poutasi's report. She stated "do not trust anyone with your kids who aren't family. A harsh lesson I've learnt in the worst possible way."
702:
1012:
487:
377:
Poutasi's report was welcomed by Malachi's parents as a vindication of their view that the child's death could have been prevented had Oranga Tamariki acted. Similar sentiments were expressed by Minister of Children
881:
979:
320:(Ministry for Children), the government department responsible for child welfare in New Zealand, commissioned an investigation into how their system failed Malachi Subecz. In addition, the Minister for Children
776:
452:
835:
307:
Barriball's father Chris stated that "he was not doing OK" since details of Subecz's case were first released to the media in May 2022. He also said that he was stigmatised by members of their community.
946:
913:
578:
522:
348:
criticised Davis' decision to delay action, stating that "a delayed approach meant atrocities were likely continuing." Ngarewara-Packer advocated implementing mandatory reporting as an interim measure.
812:
604:
295:
Subecz's relatives including his aunt Helen Menzies criticised Oranga Tamariki's handling of Subecz's case, stating that his death was preventable and that Oranga Tamariki had failed him.
395:
remaining recommendations including vetting the caregivers of imprisoned parents, regular follow-up checks and implementing the mandatory reporting of suspected abuses to Oranga Tamariki.
730:
646:
43:
692:
208:
restaurant. When relatives questioned her about Subecz's injuries, she lied that the boy had accidentally suffered burns in the shower and that she had taken Subecz to see a doctor.
1002:
235:
where he was placed in an induced coma. He was extubated on 10 November and died from his injuries on 12 November. At the time of his death, he weighed 16 kilograms (35 pounds).
215:
While living with Barriball, Subecz kept in contact with his mother, who used her prison phone card that was paid for with wages that she earned inside prison. According to
288:
symptoms. On 2 November, Megan learnt that Malachi had been admitted to Starship Hospital with traumatic brain injuries. Megan's father Shane subsequently appealed for the
219:, Malachi's mother made at least 160 calls to Barriball so she could speak to Subecz. 44 of these calls were answered and Subecz spoke to his mother about 25 times. Due to
871:
766:
936:
903:
564:
279:
Following the imprisonment of Subecz's mother Jasmine Cotter in June 2021, Cotter's niece Megan contacted Oranga Tamariki, Cotter's criminal lawyer, Cotter's
367:
192:
the daycare staff tended to his injuries, Subecz told them that Barriball would be angry if she knew that he was receiving first-aid treatment. According to
1060:
802:
614:
1045:
336:
740:
656:
1065:
1040:
488:"Chief Ombudsman slams Oranga Tamariki for handling of Malachi Subecz case, says it failed to do 'bare minimum' before child was murdered"
359:
574:
532:
497:
404:
363:
220:
38:
523:"Oranga Tamariki, other agencies 'could have done more' to prevent harm done to Malachi Subecz before his murder - review"
1055:
1050:
280:
970:"Malachi Subecz follow-up report: Children aren't any safer today than when the 5-year-old was brutally murdered"
379:
321:
258:
Crown also released the "Summary of Facts" detailing the abuse suffered by Subecz while in Barriball's care.
328:
289:
974:
345:
188:
head against a wall twice. In a second incident, Barriball held Subecz underwater while he was bathing.
1003:"Daycare where Malachi Subecz attended with injuries in months before his murder has licence cancelled"
147:
was a five-year old child who was violently abused and murdered by his caregiver Michaela Barriball in
840:
697:
457:
253:
872:"Malachi Subecz death: Te Pāti Māori claims 'lacklustre' response by Oranga Tamariki and minister"
453:"Beaten, burnt and killed: Woman imprisoned after prolonged abuse, killing of 5yo Malachi Subecz"
371:
244:
199:
About 20 days later, Barriball placed Subecz in a shower flowing with water that was 73 degrees
155:(Ministry for Children), the government department responsible for the well-being of children.
836:"Murdered 5-year-old Malachi Subecz was known to Oranga Tamariki, Children's Minister confirms"
767:"Malachi Subecz's mother: 'All I hope to come from this is it doesn't happen to other parents'"
908:
876:
609:
228:
1007:
941:
807:
771:
735:
651:
383:
317:
216:
205:
193:
181:
177:
152:
341:
1034:
331:
34:
904:"Malachi Subecz's whānau say report confirms death of five-year-old was preventable"
937:"'Hell' at Oranga Tamariki Tauranga office a key factor in Malachi Subecz's death"
803:"Two more adults tried to save Malachi. Oranga Tamariki did not act, family say"
605:"Murdered Malachi Subecz's family call for mandatory reporting of child abuse"
17:
565:"How Government is responding to damning report on Malachi Subecz's death"
285:
232:
173:
693:"Tauranga child killer who beat, burnt 5yo Malachi Subecz was his carer"
324:
confirmed that Oranga Tamariki had some involvement with Subecz's life.
569:
527:
492:
391:
262:
200:
169:
148:
61:
647:"Inside the home where 5-year-old Malachi Subecz was abused to death"
731:"Daycare centre asked Malachi Subecz's killer about suspected abuse"
292:
to conduct an urgent independent investigation into Subecz's case.
316:
In early May 2022 Chappie Te Kani, the acting chief executive of
845:
462:
138:
Murder, ill treatment of a child, injuring with intent to injure
223:
at the time, Subecz was unable to visit his mother in prison.
558:
556:
554:
481:
479:
516:
514:
760:
758:
796:
794:
724:
722:
720:
640:
638:
636:
634:
632:
134:
126:
118:
110:
102:
94:
84:
68:
57:
52:
598:
596:
446:
444:
442:
440:
438:
436:
434:
686:
684:
682:
680:
678:
676:
674:
261:On 30 June 2022, Barriball was sentenced at the
248:including a blood-stained set of green pyjamas.
184:(Ministry for Children) to look after Subecz.
8:
335:two reports by Malachi's stepfather and a
239:Police investigation and legal proceedings
204:brought Subecz to a family gathering at a
49:
430:
243:Following Subecz' hospitalisation, the
221:COVID-19 pandemic lockdown restrictions
358:including the Corrections Department,
949:from the original on 16 December 2022
815:from the original on 16 November 2022
399:Independent Children Monitor's report
7:
1015:from the original on 2 December 2022
935:Quill, Annemarie (3 December 2022).
916:from the original on 1 December 2022
884:from the original on 1 November 2022
852:from the original on 1 December 2022
705:from the original on 21 October 2022
539:from the original on 1 December 2022
521:Quinlivan, Mark (1 December 2022).
1061:Incidents of violence against boys
801:Duff, Michelle (21 October 2022).
779:from the original on 25 April 2023
765:Duff, Michelle (2 December 2022).
581:from the original on 20 March 2023
575:Warner Bros. Discovery New Zealand
533:Warner Bros. Discovery New Zealand
498:Warner Bros. Discovery New Zealand
486:Quinlivan, Mark (5 October 2022).
25:
1001:Duff, Michelle (4 October 2022).
451:Griffiths, Ethan (30 June 2022).
563:Lynch, Jenna (1 December 2022).
834:Griffiths, Ethan (6 May 2022).
691:Griffiths, Ethan (3 May 2022).
645:Quill, Annemarie (6 May 2023).
1046:Child abuse resulting in death
968:Cheng, Derek (1 August 2024).
729:Duff, Michelle (6 July 2022).
405:Independent Children's Monitor
368:Ministry of Social Development
159:was stripped of its license.
1:
603:Hill, Ruth (24 March 2023).
1066:2021 murders in New Zealand
1041:Child murder in New Zealand
1082:
403:In early August 2024, the
72:12 November 2021
390:In early December 2022,
53:Murder of Malachi Subecz
290:Office of the Ombudsman
251:In early May 2022, the
39:Infobox civilian attack
27:2021 New Zealand murder
975:The New Zealand Herald
398:
352:
337:Corrections Department
311:
302:
274:
44:considered for merging
360:Ministry of Education
346:Debbie Ngarewa-Packer
327:In October 2022, the
425:Notes and references
412:Disciplinary actions
1056:2022 in New Zealand
1051:2021 in New Zealand
912:. 1 December 2022.
880:. 21 October 2022.
841:Bay of Plenty Times
698:Bay of Plenty Times
458:Bay of Plenty Times
254:Bay of Plenty Times
145:Malachi Rain Subecz
659:on 21 October 2022
372:New Zealand Police
364:Ministry of Health
303:Barriball's family
245:New Zealand Police
114:Michaela Barriball
909:Radio New Zealand
877:Radio New Zealand
743:on 4 October 2022
610:Radio New Zealand
229:Starship Hospital
142:
141:
16:(Redirected from
1073:
1025:
1024:
1022:
1020:
998:
992:
991:
989:
987:
982:on 2 August 2024
978:. Archived from
965:
959:
958:
956:
954:
932:
926:
925:
923:
921:
900:
894:
893:
891:
889:
868:
862:
861:
859:
857:
831:
825:
824:
822:
820:
798:
789:
788:
786:
784:
762:
753:
752:
750:
748:
739:. Archived from
726:
715:
714:
712:
710:
688:
669:
668:
666:
664:
655:. Archived from
642:
627:
626:
624:
622:
617:on 13 April 2023
613:. Archived from
600:
591:
590:
588:
586:
560:
549:
548:
546:
544:
518:
509:
508:
506:
504:
483:
474:
473:
471:
469:
448:
353:Poutasi's report
312:Boshier's report
79:
77:
50:
47:
21:
1081:
1080:
1076:
1075:
1074:
1072:
1071:
1070:
1031:
1030:
1029:
1028:
1018:
1016:
1000:
999:
995:
985:
983:
967:
966:
962:
952:
950:
934:
933:
929:
919:
917:
902:
901:
897:
887:
885:
870:
869:
865:
855:
853:
833:
832:
828:
818:
816:
800:
799:
792:
782:
780:
764:
763:
756:
746:
744:
728:
727:
718:
708:
706:
690:
689:
672:
662:
660:
644:
643:
630:
620:
618:
602:
601:
594:
584:
582:
562:
561:
552:
542:
540:
520:
519:
512:
502:
500:
485:
484:
477:
467:
465:
450:
449:
432:
427:
414:
401:
355:
329:Chief Ombudsman
318:Oranga Tamariki
314:
305:
277:
275:Subecz's family
272:
241:
206:Mount Maunganui
182:Oranga Tamariki
176:. According to
165:
163:Abuse and death
153:Oranga Tamariki
87:
75:
73:
48:
32:
28:
23:
22:
15:
12:
11:
5:
1079:
1077:
1069:
1068:
1063:
1058:
1053:
1048:
1043:
1033:
1032:
1027:
1026:
993:
960:
927:
895:
863:
826:
790:
754:
716:
670:
628:
592:
550:
510:
475:
429:
428:
426:
423:
413:
410:
400:
397:
354:
351:
313:
310:
304:
301:
276:
273:
271:
268:
240:
237:
164:
161:
140:
139:
136:
132:
131:
128:
124:
123:
120:
116:
115:
112:
108:
107:
106:Malachi Subecz
104:
100:
99:
98:Physical abuse
96:
92:
91:
88:
85:
82:
81:
70:
66:
65:
59:
55:
54:
31:
26:
24:
18:Malachi Subecz
14:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1078:
1067:
1064:
1062:
1059:
1057:
1054:
1052:
1049:
1047:
1044:
1042:
1039:
1038:
1036:
1014:
1010:
1009:
1004:
997:
994:
981:
977:
976:
971:
964:
961:
948:
944:
943:
938:
931:
928:
915:
911:
910:
905:
899:
896:
883:
879:
878:
873:
867:
864:
851:
847:
843:
842:
837:
830:
827:
814:
810:
809:
804:
797:
795:
791:
778:
774:
773:
768:
761:
759:
755:
742:
738:
737:
732:
725:
723:
721:
717:
704:
700:
699:
694:
687:
685:
683:
681:
679:
677:
675:
671:
658:
654:
653:
648:
641:
639:
637:
635:
633:
629:
616:
612:
611:
606:
599:
597:
593:
580:
576:
572:
571:
566:
559:
557:
555:
551:
538:
534:
530:
529:
524:
517:
515:
511:
499:
495:
494:
489:
482:
480:
476:
464:
460:
459:
454:
447:
445:
443:
441:
439:
437:
435:
431:
424:
422:
418:
411:
409:
406:
396:
393:
388:
385:
381:
375:
373:
369:
365:
361:
350:
347:
343:
338:
333:
332:Peter Boshier
330:
325:
323:
319:
309:
300:
296:
293:
291:
287:
282:
269:
267:
264:
259:
256:
255:
249:
246:
238:
236:
234:
230:
224:
222:
218:
213:
209:
207:
202:
197:
195:
189:
185:
183:
179:
175:
171:
162:
160:
156:
154:
150:
146:
137:
133:
129:
125:
121:
117:
113:
109:
105:
101:
97:
93:
89:
83:
71:
67:
64:, New Zealand
63:
60:
56:
51:
45:
41:
40:
36:
30:
19:
1017:. Retrieved
1006:
996:
984:. Retrieved
980:the original
973:
963:
951:. Retrieved
940:
930:
918:. Retrieved
907:
898:
886:. Retrieved
875:
866:
854:. Retrieved
839:
829:
817:. Retrieved
806:
781:. Retrieved
770:
745:. Retrieved
741:the original
734:
707:. Retrieved
696:
661:. Retrieved
657:the original
650:
619:. Retrieved
615:the original
608:
583:. Retrieved
568:
541:. Retrieved
526:
501:. Retrieved
491:
466:. Retrieved
456:
419:
415:
402:
389:
380:Kelvin Davis
376:
356:
326:
322:Kelvin Davis
315:
306:
297:
294:
281:family court
278:
260:
252:
250:
242:
225:
214:
210:
198:
190:
186:
166:
157:
144:
143:
37:
29:
953:31 December
888:31 December
342:Māori Party
135:Convictions
86:Attack type
33:‹ The
1035:Categories
920:1 December
819:1 December
663:25 October
543:1 December
503:1 December
468:1 December
370:, and the
344:co-leader
76:2021-11-12
270:Responses
119:Convicted
111:Assailant
42:is being
1019:25 April
1013:Archived
986:3 August
947:Archived
914:Archived
882:Archived
856:25 April
850:Archived
813:Archived
783:25 April
777:Archived
747:25 April
709:25 April
703:Archived
621:25 April
585:20 March
579:Archived
537:Archived
286:COVID-19
233:Auckland
174:Tauranga
80:(murder)
58:Location
46:. ›
35:template
570:Newshub
528:Newshub
493:Newshub
392:Newshub
263:Rotorua
201:Celsius
172:, near
170:Te Puna
149:Te Puna
127:Verdict
95:Weapons
74: (
62:Te Puna
130:Guilty
103:Deaths
90:Murder
1008:Stuff
942:Stuff
808:Stuff
772:Stuff
736:Stuff
652:Stuff
384:Stuff
217:Stuff
194:Stuff
178:Stuff
1021:2023
988:2024
955:2022
922:2022
890:2022
858:2023
846:NZME
821:2022
785:2023
749:2023
711:2023
665:2023
623:2023
587:2023
545:2022
505:2022
470:2022
463:NZME
69:Date
231:in
1037::
1011:.
1005:.
972:.
945:.
939:.
906:.
874:.
848:.
844:.
838:.
811:.
805:.
793:^
775:.
769:.
757:^
733:.
719:^
701:.
695:.
673:^
649:.
631:^
607:.
595:^
577:.
573:.
567:.
553:^
535:.
531:.
525:.
513:^
496:.
490:.
478:^
461:.
455:.
433:^
382:.
366:,
362:,
1023:.
990:.
957:.
924:.
892:.
860:.
823:.
787:.
751:.
713:.
667:.
625:.
589:.
547:.
507:.
472:.
122:1
78:)
20:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.