In 2015, a 15-year-old boy—whom we will call “Bruce”—visited Dunedin for a weekend stay at Sonya’s home. At the time, Bruce was fighting a difficult addiction to synthetic cannabis, a struggle that was already damaging his education, his relationship with his father, and his future prospects.

Instead of providing a safe environment for a vulnerable teenager, Sonya did the unthinkable: she offered him the very substance he was trying to escape. In an act of total disregard for his well-being, Sonya, Bruce, and a third party spent over an hour smoking in a bedroom. Meanwhile, Sonya’s youngest child was left entirely unsupervised in the next room, forced to look after herself while the adults indulged in illicit drugs.

A Plea for Action: Who Will Step Up?

This isn’t just a story about a bad choice; it is a desperate plea for the safety of a young girl still in Sonya’s care. For too long, people have looked the other way. Family members dismiss the behavior by saying, “That’s just Sonya,” or claiming it’s “too hard” to get involved.

This website has reached over 1,300 views, yet the silence remains. I gain nothing from sharing these truths except the hope that someone—anyone—will finally act.

The System has Failed:

CYF (Oranga Tamariki) has failed her.

The NZ Police have failed her.

The Community—teachers, friends, and close family—have remained submissive, allowing this unsafe and unhealthy environment to persist.

Update: 2026

Sonya no longer has any children in her care