The Star: January 18, 2024

Thursday January 18 2024 The Star
Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz
NEWS 5
after patient murdered wife
“On behalf of the team here in
Waitaha, I am extremely sorry
that a patient in our care killed
Mr Tunidau’s wife, and caused so
much grief, loss, and distress.”
She said the former health
board chief executive wrote to
Tunidau soon after the murder
to express his sympathies and
offered to meet him once reports
were made public.
Gibbs said that offer still stood,
but she would now be the person
to share the findings with him.
The coroner’s inquiry was
ongoing and the external review
was “also being progressed”.
“At this stage, we don’t have
a date when the review will be
finalised. This was an extremely
serious event and it’s important
that all relevant information is
collected, interviews are carried
out and facts checked as part of
the review process.
“This takes time and will
help ensure the findings are
meaningful, provide answers to
all those impacted by this tragic
event and identify opportunities
to improve the way we work in
future.”
Gibbs said she, along with
the senior clinical team, would
be “very happy” to meet with
Tunidau at any point if it was
helpful for him and his family.
Gibbs called Tunidau
last Friday after getting his
phone number from the NZ
Herald.
Tunidau said she apologised no
one had said sorry to the family
and was going to call him again
this week to arrange to see him
in person. He could not recall
having received anything from
the former DHB chief executive
at the time as it was “not a happy
time”, and he met a large number
of people.
A Ministry of Health
spokesman said the director
of mental health’s inspection
of Canterbury’s Mental Health
Services was ongoing, pending
the findings of Te Whatu Ora’s
review.
High-profile victim advocate
Ruth Money said the lack of
communication was “absolutely
FAMILY: Laisa Waka Tunidau (left), Sereana Dontea
Tunidau, Eparama Tunidau and Nemani Tunidau.
not good enough”.
“That exacerbates the harm
this delay is causing. There’s
absolutely no reason why Te
Whatu Ora haven’t reached out
to the family,” she said.
“There’s been nothing
health-like in their response
whatsoever.”
She said Te Whatu Ora’s
comments were “too little too late
and has only eventuated after the
Herald contacted them”.
“They should be ashamed of
how they are treating, or in fact
ignoring and revictimising this
poor family.”
Money said there was
“absolutely no reason” why the
review could not have been
completed and with the family
by now.
“How can Te Whatu Ora claim
to have learned or improved
anything if for 18 months the
report has not been completed?”
Money, who has been
advocating for the family,
said they were the “epitome of
humanity”.
“What they’re experiencing is
the absolutely other end of that
scale.”
Tunidau is still coming to
terms with his dual role as mother
and father since Laisa’s death.
He says he tries to be strong for
their four children, but admits
it has taken a toll on his health
with the stress of losing her and
trying to provide for the family.
He’s grateful for all the support
the family has received and says
their faith has helped them in
their grief.
He says the children seem to be
getting better, but the memories
and sadness just pop up at any
moment and bring it all back.
“It’s so hard to believe that it’s
happened. You can’t just take it
out of your mind.”
Tunidau wants to “stand
strong” for their children and
plans to continue working until
they have their own jobs and
JUSTICE: Zakariye Mohamed Hussein pleaded guilty to
murdering Laisa Waka Tunidau. Her grieving husband
Nemani Tunidau gave an emotional victim impact
statement at Hussein’s sentencing.
are set up for their own futures
in New Zealand. He says he will
likely then go back to Fiji to live,
not wanting to be a burden to his
children. He constantly misses his
wife, whom he married in 1998.
“The more I think about it, it
makes me weaker.”
On a cabinet in the living room
is some artwork bearing Laisa’s
name. Behind it is a picture of
Laisa taken on her youngest son’s
PHOTO:
ANNA LEASK
PHOTO:
GEORGE HEARD
first school trip around Fiji, with
some wild orchard flowers resting
just behind.
It’s a tribute to the woman the
family miss so dearly.
“She was so lovely,”
Tunidau says as he recalls
the smiling face in the picture.
She’s my wife. I don’t know if
I’d ever find another woman
like that in my life.”
– NZ Herald
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