Runaway's website shut down by mother | Rotorua News | Local News in Rotorua
Runaway's website shut down by mother
Esther Wolthers
By ABIGAIL CASPARI in Rotorua
A website set up by the mother of a Rotorua girl who ran away from her Child Youth and Family caregiver seven weeks ago has been closed down.
The site www.estherwol-thers.whereareyou.net was closed earlier this week by the mother Marianne Wolthers, who is in hiding with her 10-year-old daughter Esther.
Esther ran away from her Child Youth and Family caregiver's Rotorua home on July 23 and has not been seen since.
There is a warrant out for Ms Wolthers' arrest.
Ms Wolthers set up the website a few weeks ago. The website attracted a huge amount of feedback both for and against Ms Wolthers' stance as well as allegations against Child Youth and Family.
In an email to the Daily Post Ms Wolthers said she closed the site because of some of the comments posted on it.
She claimed some of those responding were "twisting the truth" and "slandering my name".
"It's their way of trying to stop an investigation and protecting their own names."
She has made a number of demands which include:
* police to cancel the warrant for her arrest
* police to investigate the abuse allegations made by Esther against the caregiver
* an independent inquiry as to why Child Youth and Family allowed the woman to be a caregiver
* Esther being returned to the legal custody of her mother.
Detective Senior Sergeant Mark Loper of the Rotorua police said he was not aware the website had been closed down.
"We are not at all interested in the website and the propaganda ... All we want is the mum and kid to come forward. Come in and get this sorted out because it won't go away."
Mr Loper said it was not up to the police to cancel the warrant as that was a matter for the courts.
Police were not able to do much about the situation until they spoke to Ms Wolthers.
"We are not going into demands. All we want to do is talk to them initially ... Get them into the courts and let their lawyers sort it out."
Mr Loper said he was not surprised Ms Wolthers had not been found yet.
"New Zealand can be a big place ... people will get sick of running."
Child Youth and Family's regional director Geoff Williams was not aware the website had closed.
Meanwhile, the manager of the Rotorua office of Child Youth and Family, Noel Stevens, is on leave, as is another senior manager.
The department refused to say why Mr Stevens was on leave but a message on his voicemail says he is on sick leave. However, there is an acting site manager in place and two of the supervisors are sharing the responsibility for managing cases.
The Rotorua office has a number of vacancies which have attracted a good range of applicants and appointments are being made.
All cases needing urgent attention are being responded to on time. About 14 cases notified within less than 20 days are still to be allocated.
A website set up by the mother of a Rotorua girl who ran away from her Child Youth and Family caregiver seven weeks ago has been closed down.
The site www.estherwol-thers.whereareyou.net was closed earlier this week by the mother Marianne Wolthers, who is in hiding with her 10-year-old daughter Esther.
Esther ran away from her Child Youth and Family caregiver's Rotorua home on July 23 and has not been seen since.
There is a warrant out for Ms Wolthers' arrest.
Ms Wolthers set up the website a few weeks ago. The website attracted a huge amount of feedback both for and against Ms Wolthers' stance as well as allegations against Child Youth and Family.
In an email to the Daily Post Ms Wolthers said she closed the site because of some of the comments posted on it.
She claimed some of those responding were "twisting the truth" and "slandering my name".
"It's their way of trying to stop an investigation and protecting their own names."
She has made a number of demands which include:
* police to cancel the warrant for her arrest
* police to investigate the abuse allegations made by Esther against the caregiver
* an independent inquiry as to why Child Youth and Family allowed the woman to be a caregiver
* Esther being returned to the legal custody of her mother.
Detective Senior Sergeant Mark Loper of the Rotorua police said he was not aware the website had been closed down.
"We are not at all interested in the website and the propaganda ... All we want is the mum and kid to come forward. Come in and get this sorted out because it won't go away."
Mr Loper said it was not up to the police to cancel the warrant as that was a matter for the courts.
Police were not able to do much about the situation until they spoke to Ms Wolthers.
"We are not going into demands. All we want to do is talk to them initially ... Get them into the courts and let their lawyers sort it out."
Mr Loper said he was not surprised Ms Wolthers had not been found yet.
"New Zealand can be a big place ... people will get sick of running."
Child Youth and Family's regional director Geoff Williams was not aware the website had closed.
Meanwhile, the manager of the Rotorua office of Child Youth and Family, Noel Stevens, is on leave, as is another senior manager.
The department refused to say why Mr Stevens was on leave but a message on his voicemail says he is on sick leave. However, there is an acting site manager in place and two of the supervisors are sharing the responsibility for managing cases.
The Rotorua office has a number of vacancies which have attracted a good range of applicants and appointments are being made.
All cases needing urgent attention are being responded to on time. About 14 cases notified within less than 20 days are still to be allocated.
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