Truant kids babysit while parents party

This is no surprise. Get the quote from the youth aid officer, "Those parents shouldn't have kids if that's what they're doing," stating the blindingly obvious.

In Te Kauwhata, truancy officer Girlie Iwihora found one set of parents drinking at a party during the morning while their nine-year-old child, who should have been at school, looked after his six-month-old sibling.

Both truancy officers said the cases were not isolated.

"I'm dealing with more situations like this everyday, where children are put in this kind of environment," Ms Te Heuheu said.