Bay of Plenty early childhood reliever admits possessing 390 child sex abuse videos

A 22-year-old woman who worked as a reliever and untrained teacher at childcare centres across the Bay of Plenty was found with 298 videos classed as the most serious type child sexual exploitation material, some involving toddlers and infants. There is no suggestion that any of the images she possessed involved children she knew or had contact with through her work.

An FBI investigation in the US targeted a person she was in contact with over encrypted social media apps Telegram and Wire, and the woman was arrested by NZ police in October 2024. She appeared in the Tauranga District Court on Tuesday where she pleaded guilty to four representative charges of possessing objectionable material involving child exploitation.