Sexual abuse of children is a long term and serious problem in New Zealand. It ruins many people’s lives, and some victims (a minority) become abusers as adults, perpetuating the problem across generations.
It is known to be a serious problem in the Māori population, and Māori have been criticised for not standing up and speaking up to confront the issue.
Anihera Black has spoken up, and has caused quite a stir, claiming her husband (who died in 2016) was a paedophile who had also been abused as a child.
RNZ: Widows claims of late husband’s paedophilia – ‘brave’
The widow of Te Awanuiārangi Black, a prominent iwi leader who died in 2016, has posted a video to social media saying he was a serial abuser of children.
Awanui Black, who died two years ago, was a Bay of Plenty regional councillor and member of the Māori Language Commission.
In the video Anihera Black, at times distressed, said he was a predator who groomed and abused children over many years.
She said she was speaking on behalf of herself and family and that she was speaking out now because silence about such matters was violence to the soul.
“I am so extremely sorry and devastated.
“I’ll do what I can to help navigate through your healing process, but here’s where you take your power back.”
Ms Black said she and her family gave any potential victims permission to speak “your truth”.
In her video Mrs Black said her husband Awanui Black was himself abused as a child and that had created the same behaviour in him.
The family had decided not to unveil Mr Black’s headstone as it would perpetuate the illusion of who he was, she said.
People who new Awanui Black have voiced surprise over these accusations, saying they had seen no sign of abuse – but paedophiles have often got away with keeping abuse secret.
It will only be addressed if peoeple who do know of abusers, like Anihera Black, speak up.
There are issues in this case as the accused is now dead so cannot defend himself. But I think that the claims have to be taken seriously – otherwise the problem will keep being swept under the carpet.
NZH: Widow of Awanui Black claims he was a paedophile
Sobbing back tears and occasionally wailing in grief, she said: “I have an announcement to make on behalf of my kids and I and perhaps it will shock a lot of you and perhaps it will help some of you find some comfort.”
It was, she said, “something that needs to be done”.
“Those good deeds Awa did for individuals will live on in the memory of their lifetimes.
However the pain and suffering he caused others may live on for generations to come if things are left unsaid.”Anihera Zhou Black said her former husband had come across as a larger-than-life leader with a booming voice but was actually “a shrivelled up cowering soulless shadow of a man”.
Throughout that time, she said he lived a double life that – she believed – stemmed from sexual abuse he had suffered as a boy.
“In turn it created the same behaviour in Awa. Awa became a paedophile and over the years, honing his skills, waiting for that perfect moment he had preordained to steal the innocence of others.
“I wondered why Awa invited so many young people through our home over the years and I thought it was to be a good aunty and uncle. I know differently now.
“He became a predator, a recruiter, a teacher, a pimp, a ringleader of one of the many child-adult sex rings here in his beloved Tauranga Moana and he took that shit nationwide with all his contacts in every stream of life.
“They would recruit the innocent…. share them around like a box of beer, consume every last drop and discarding the empty vessels into the gutter, soulless, cold and broken.
“I am so extremely sorry and devastated. You are all my babies now and I will do what I can to navigate through your healing process.
Anihera Zhou Black said those who were victims had “permission to speak your truth”.
“Take back the power of the secret. It has no power in the light. Give yourself permission to be heard, be it a whisper or a bloodcurdling scream.”
She said the thought of going ahead “made me feel like an accomplice”.
“The people I would talk to in passing would extol his virtues and I would smile politely and on the inside be swallowing back my own vomit.”
It can be very difficult for those caught in proximity to cultures of abuse. Breaking the silence, even if belatedly, is far better than letting abuses continue.
Obviously Awanui Black can no longer abuse, but encouraging others to speak up can help reduce other abuses.
Reactions to the video have included shock and anger.
These claims will have shocked some people, but more people need to speak up to confront a shocking record of abuse of children in New Zealand.
