Key Takeaways:
- Te Kāika, a Dunedin health organisation, was embroiled in a crisis when one of its senior health workers, Rema Smith, was charged with serious domestic-violence charges.
- Despite the charges, Te Kāika’s chief executive, Matt Matahaere, fought to keep Smith’s name suppressed and later gave him a glowing reference, describing him as a potential future chief executive.
- The victim, Rose, has been left with PTSD and feels that her story won’t be believed due to Smith’s reputation as a social worker and the continued support he received from his employers.
- Smith’s behavior was marked by obsessive and stalking-type behavior, including showing up at Rose’s home with patched gang members and making explicit threats of self-harm.
- Te Kāika’s handling of the situation has raised questions about the organisation’s commitment to supporting victims of domestic violence and its relationship with gang members.
Introduction to the Crisis
The Dunedin health organisation, Te Kāika, was in crisis mode in March 2024 when one of its senior health workers, Rema Smith, was charged with serious domestic-violence charges. The charges stemmed from a relationship he had started with a Te Kāika co-worker, Rose, who was 15 years his junior. The court heard about his obsessive "stalking-type behaviour" and how he had turned up at the victim’s home with two patched gang members who were driving his work vehicle. Te Kāika’s chief executive, Matt Matahaere, fought to keep Smith’s name suppressed, but a judge later asked him to front up in court.
The Victim’s Story
Rose, who has since been diagnosed with PTSD, was disgusted that Smith’s reputation appeared unscathed since the domestic-violence ordeal he inflicted upon her. She saw it as an extension of the manipulation she endured at his hands. When she first met Smith, she recalled being impressed with his openness and the way he could get on with anyone. However, there was another side of him that soon emerged. Rose recalled him losing his temper over something innocuous while they were socialising one night, and he followed her up the street, screaming and punching concrete walls with both hands. Despite his apology and reconciliation, Rose soon discovered that Smith was in a long-term relationship with someone else, which he had never disclosed to her.
The Escalation of Events
The situation escalated in February 2024, when Smith’s obsession with Rose ramped up. He had claimed he would make the long drive to her family home to see her, and when she refused, he turned up at her home unannounced, explaining he had driven every road in the suburb until he found her car. Rose was terrified and asked Smith to leave her alone, but he continued to harass her, calling her nearly 100 times and sending constant messages, begging to see her and professing his love. The situation became increasingly menacing, with Smith showing up at her home with several men and banging on the doors and windows, and eventually entering the property through a kitchen window and taking Rose’s car keys from her bedroom.
Te Kāika’s Handling of the Situation
Te Kāika’s handling of the situation has raised questions about the organisation’s commitment to supporting victims of domestic violence and its relationship with gang members. Despite Smith’s serious charges, Matahaere gave him a glowing reference, describing him as a potential future chief executive. The organisation also paid for Smith’s legal fees, which has been questioned as unethical considering Te Kāika’s contracts involved supporting victims of domestic violence. Furthermore, Te Kāika’s inconsistent approach to name suppression has been highlighted, with Matahaere seeking to suppress Smith’s name while not doing so for another employee, Dr Asheer Singh, who was facing tax-evasion charges.
The Aftermath
The aftermath of the court case has seen Smith sentenced to 12 months’ supervision and 100 hours’ community work, including a ban from entering Dunedin while serving the sentence, monitored by an ankle bracelet. Rose has been left to pick up the pieces, struggling to come to terms with the trauma she experienced at the hands of Smith. She feels that her story won’t be believed due to Smith’s reputation as a social worker and the continued support he received from his employers. The Social Workers Registration Board has suspended Smith, but the professional body was more lenient last time he was in trouble, opting not to suspend him after he was involved in a motorcycle licence scam. The board’s handling of the situation has raised questions about its commitment to protecting the public and upholding the integrity of the social work profession.
Conclusion
The Te Kāika crisis has highlighted the need for organisations to take a strong stance against domestic violence and to prioritize the safety and well-being of victims. The case has also raised questions about the relationship between Te Kāika and gang members, and the organisation’s commitment to upholding the integrity of the social work profession. As Rose struggles to rebuild her life, it is clear that the impact of Smith’s actions will be felt for a long time to come. The case serves as a reminder of the importance of holding perpetrators of domestic violence accountable and providing support to victims, and the need for organisations to prioritize the safety and well-being of those they serve.
