Press release 20/05/19

Meeting with Prime Minister “Best hope” for Nicky Stevens whanau.

The highly publicised case of Nicky Stevens who died in 2015 while in the legal care of the Waikato DHB is to be put before the Prime Minister next week.

Nicky’s parents Jane Stevens and Dave Macpherson and brother Tony Stevens will meet with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern next Wednesday after she agreed to meet the family in February.

They have asked the Prime Minister to step in and mediate an agreement between the whanau, the Waikato DHB, and the Police to settle outstanding matters including apologies and restitution arising from Nicky’s death.

Both the Waikato DHB and the Police were slammed in ‘damning’ findings by the Coronial and Independent Police Conduct Authority investigations in relation to Nicky’s death. These findings concluded that the deficiencies in Nicky’s care by the Waikato DHB resulted in his death and that a series of serious failings by Police meant no one in Police took responsibility to search for Nicky for over two days. Nicky’s body was found in the Waikato River in 2015 by a member of the public 4 days after he disappeared.

Since the coronial findings were released the Waikato DHB in an unprecedented move, has called for an investigation into the findings and conduct of Coroner Wallace Bain, a move that has not only shocked Nicky’s Whanau but has led to legal and Community leaders including QC Nigel Hampton and NZer’ of the Year Mike King to publicly condemn the move.

Nicky’s mother Jane Stevens said that “This is now our best hope to bring some sense into this situation. We were totally devastated when the DHB challenged the Coroners Findings, it’s been a nightmare, we waited nearly 4 years for our sons Inquest to happen, now the DHB has challenged the findings purely because they will not accept accountability for our Son’s death.”

Dave Macpherson Nicky’s father added that “It is clear to us that it is going to take some independent and wise heads to assess ways of achieving closure and reparation.

The family have been active in calling for better support for families engaging with Mental health services and especially when things go wrong.

Jane says “our case is but one of many, many families around the country left without any support to face dealing with all the legal and beauacratic processes all while we are grieving - It’s the worst nightmare you can imagine and it just keeps going on.”

The family are also meeting with New Waikato DHB Commissioner Karen Poutasi next Thursday after they meet with Prime Minister Ardern.

Dave Macpherson says “that they hope that the politics of kindness and common sense will win out, giving the family closure and the ability to move on with their lives.”

Ngaa mihi

Jane Stevens and Dave Macpherson

ends

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