Parents of Caleb Moefa'auo, who died after being pepper sprayed, call for mental health reforms
Caleb Moefa'auo died on 5 April from a cardiac arrest not long after being pepper sprayed by an officer at the Mt Eden Corrections Facility in Auckland.
The first part of the inquest into the 26-year-old's death was held last month.
The parents of Caleb Moefa'auo are hoping the inquest into his death will bring changes into how individuals with mental disorders are treated while on remand.
Photo:
Nick Monro
Prior to his death, Caleb had been staying at Tiaho Mai, a residential unit to support people with mental health issues, after pleading guilty to aggravated assault and shoplifting in June of 2021.
In December 2021, he was sent to Mt Eden Corrections Facility after allegedly assaulting a fellow patient at Tiaho Mai, and he was later found to be at risk of self-harm and placed in the Intervention and Support Unit.
In a sit-down interview with
Pacific Waves
his parents, Fereti Moefa'auo and Justine Lauese, who described Caleb as a "hard worker" shared their son's struggle with schizoaffective disorder.
Lauese recalled the day she received the news.
"It was a very difficult day. We were out shopping, myself and my girls, my daughters and my eldest daughter came home first, and we were out shopping," Ms Lauese said.
"She told me 'Mum, you need to come home'.
"I got home and there were two detectives waiting for us, and I knew as soon as I saw them that it was bad news," she said.
"I just had that hope that he just hurt himself and he was still okay, until they told us that he had passed away that morning."
An image of Caleb Moefa'auo positioned in the witness box.
Photo:
RNZ/Felix Walton
The first phase of the inquest was held
in mid-July
, with a focus on the Department of Corrections' training and procedures.
With a second inquest coming up in November, Caleb's parents say they are confident that the concerns they have raised about the procedures will bring about change.
Moefa'auo said individuals with mental health issues need full support.
"There is just a lot more happening and a lot more kids like Caleb that have come out, and they need all the support they need from their families and their whanau," he said.
"So, I think instead of like keeping that quiet and what, they just need to be more aware that there's help out there that could help them in better situations than like Caleb," he said.
"Sometimes the cracks are bigger than what you think."
In a statement sent to RNZ Pacific, Corrections said a full review was carried out following the death of Caleb Moefa'auo.
Corrections have said they have made a "number of changes and continue to look at how we can improve our practices" since the reviews.
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