Baby Ru's mum Storm Wall speaks about the day her son was killed 18 months ago
'It's the what ifs, it's the 'what we could have done together',' Wall told RNZ through tears.
'I'm just like picturing him in like costumes, or like picturing what we could have done that day, just, just missing out on milestones is the most heartbreaking thing anyone could go through.'
The defenceless little boy, two days shy of celebrating his second birthday, suffered blunt-force trauma so severe it fractured his skull and led to his death.
The case would become etched in the public consciousness – another young child killed who should have been safe.
Baby Ru, officially named Nga Reo Te Huatahi Reremoana Ahipene-Wall, died at Hutt Hospital on October 22, 2023.
Police have previously said there are three people of interest, Rosie Morunga, her partner Dylan Ross, and the child's mother, Storm Wall, who were all living at the same Poole St house with Ru.
Neither Morunga nor Ross have spoken to media since the homicide investigation began.
On the one-year anniversary Morunga posted on Instagram: 'Missed dearly aunty is so sorry boy I couldn't save you. Aunty and uncle will get justice.'
She went on to post an image of a baby holding a woman's hand with the caption 'one year and it won't get any easier'.
In an exclusive interview with RNZ marking the 18-month anniversary of her son's death, Wall, now 23, spoke at length about what she alleges happened to her son and who she claims killed him.
She said she replayed that day at least twice a week.
RNZ is unable to report what she alleges happened, but Wall said what stuck in her mind the most is her effort to try save her son.
'I was trying to do CPR, trying to recover him in that state, that's what plays in my head. And I feel like I failed ... I should have been faster. I should have, you know, to try and help him like, but I was just screaming out to the world. Saying why? ... I just wanted him to be in the hospital, you know, trying to, trying to catch his breath or anything just so he could still be here.'
Wall last heard from police at the beginning of the year. She said they were checking in to see if they were okay.
Police are yet to rule out any of the three persons of interest. Asked if she found it hard being treated as a person of interest for such a period, Wall replied she did not include herself as a suspect.
'I'm innocent and that's all I can say. I was a loving mum to him. I gave him the world, even though my world wasn't perfect.'
The officer in charge of the investigation, dubbed Operation Huia, Detective Inspector Nick Pritchard, told RNZ police were still forensically examining several exhibits relevant to the homicide.
The exhibits include items found by police during a 'targeted search' at Moonshine Rd, in a semi-rural area, north of Wellington just over a year after Nga Reo's death. Police believe a grey-green 1994 Nissan Sentra, with the number plate TE6972 was used to transport items from the crime scene.
'After that analysis we will complete a full review of the entire case and evidence gathered to determine next steps.'
Pritchard urged the person or persons responsible to come forward.
'It would be the decent thing to do and not continue to carry the burden of having killed a young child.'
Wall was adamant she told police everything she knows, and said she was surprised no one has been charged to date. She said she woke up every morning hoping it will be the day she hears there has been an arrest.
'I'm just hoping for it to hurry so he can finally rest more.'
Wall said she had experienced a 'wave of emotions' in the last 18 months.
'The first six months was the worst. Like just having your world shattered just all in one ... there's no description of what that type of feeling is or was it's just something no one should go through.'
Wall said she had tried to find a 'new purpose' since his death. She had attended courses and planned to go back to studying in July.
She still fondly recalled her 'happy, bubbly, observant, cheeky little baby' who loved nature.
'He was just perfection in my eyes, as every parent says towards their babies.'
Wall began to cry as she talked about how hard it was to look at the photos of her son around the home.
Despite the pain, she said looking at the little boy's smile did make her happy too.
'I know he's not physically here, but his presence within spirit is always here ... it's calming in a way.'
As she looks back, Wall said her biggest regret, which she does not think will ever go away, is that she moved to Lower Hutt in the first place.
Wall says she has not spoken to Ross or Morunga since the day of her son's death.
Asked how she feels towards the couple, Wall said 'it's more than hatred'.
'I despise of them with every inch of my body.'
Nga Reo would have been aged 3 years and 6 months this week. Now living in a farm area, Wall is sure the little boy would be out imitating his uncles doing the hunting and fishing. He would also be making most of the large lawn riding with his pretend lawnmower.
'He'd just be loving life I guess.'
Police still want to hear from anyone with information about the case, by calling 105, and quoting the file number 231022/1708, or via the Crime Stoppers line on 0800 555 111.
- RNZ
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'Beautiful, happy little boy' Unlike other child deaths, Cresswell's case was not high profile. His face and name are not well known. But his story still leaves behind a question that Borrowdale, in her 54-page report seeks to answer: How did this tragedy occur? Ashton's medical issues began at birth. He was six weeks old when he was diagnosed with Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID) with a T-cell activation defect, a rare genetic condition which causes life-threatening problems with the immune system. He underwent a bone marrow transplant at seven months old, then remained in hospital for almost a year receiving chemotherapy and radiation therapy. "It was very, very hard." Daley says. Following his release from hospital, Ashton was fed by a nasogastric tube. The family were monitored by social workers, who said Ashton's mother took capable care of him during his recovery. Daley also helped with checking the little boy overnight, making sure he did not choke on his feeding tube. 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Cresswell said that while Ashton was happy and walking around, he wouldn't eat and slept from about midday to 2pm. Between 5pm and 8pm he was vomiting and still not eating. However, he drank lots of water and was given anti-nausea medication. "That's what I don't get, how he went downhill so fast. If I'd known that it was something else, I would've taken him straight to the medical centre." In the same interview she told police: "He didn't even spew today." In the hours before Ashton died, he had been in the lounge watching TV with one of his siblings, Cresswell said. She said she asked Otuszewski to bring Ashton into their bedroom as she wanted him to sleep with them so she could "keep an eye on him". She said Otuszewski was with Ashton in the lounge for 5-15 minutes. Once Ashton was in her bedroom, he was "just lying there pulling goofy faces," she said. "When I thought he was going to sleep, he - he turned over to me and said, 'Mum I love you', and then he turned over and I thought he was going to sleep. "As soon as I seen that he wasn't breathing I rang you [emergency services] straightaway." Police asked her why she did not get medical help for Ashton earlier, she said she thought it was just a vomiting bug. In relation to the bruises, Cresswell said Ashton sleepwalked and had fallen over a post on her mother's partner's driveway. Five months after Ashton's death, police interviewed Cresswell a second time. Cresswell said on the day of her son's death, she took her kids to school and went down the road to help a friend who was in a wheelchair. When she got home, Cresswell alleged she saw Otuszewski smack Ashton's hand hard, after the 4-year-old cracked a window with a hairbrush. She claimed that after smacking Ashton, Otuszewski lifted him up off his feet and was "going nutty at him". Ashton appeared "terrified", she said. She said she grabbed Ashton and said, "how dare you hit my son". "I just wish I knew he was like that, eh, I wouldn't have had him around my kids." she told police. She said that between 12pm and 3pm she called a friend to ask to get a lift to the hospital because Ashton was vomiting. She said the Pahiatua medical centre was "useless". "I wanted to get him checked over. The medical centre here, I took him up and they were too busy, they couldn't see him." The medical centre provided evidence that Cresswell made no attempt to contact them during April 2017, but if she had, doctors would "unquestionably" have seen him, they said. The friend would later tell police Cresswell did not call her. As in her first interview, she said Otuszewski was in the lounge with Ashton for 5-15 minutes before bringing him into their room. "Ashton gave me a cuddle ... he put his arms around me, said "Mum I love you," turned over and that's when I noticed he wasn't breathing properly. "Like his breathing was, his chest was like sucking it in. It's, yeah, it was - there was something wrong." She claimed Otuszewski hid her cellphone so she couldn't call emergency services. She eventually found it and rang for help. "He snatched the phone off me and started talking to them and the lady on the phone was - told him to give me back the phone because I was doing CPR on him and she was trying to tell me what to do." The coroner said the audio recording of the call revealed Otuszewski did not take her phone and talk to the call taker. Cresswell said she did not know where Ashton's bruises came from, but said she thought it was from him "running into things". "I just feel so ratshit. I'm his mother, I should've been, I should've known something was going on, but I didn't. All his bruises, I just thought it was from him falling down the stairs and running into stuff." During a third interview with police in May 2018, Cresswell was asked about the 65 bruises on his body. She said she thought they were due to his "clumsiness". She was once again asked why she did not get help for Ashton earlier. "[Otuszewski] had my phone when I went to, I wanted to ring the first time and he wouldn't give it to me, it was when he, I woke up and Ashton was hardly breathing and he, I felt his body cold, that he finally gave me the phone. He had my phone underneath the mattress on his side of the bed, he wouldn't give it to me." The coroner says Cresswell then "asserted her right to give no further information to police". 'I'm telling the honest truth' Otuszewski was also interviewed three times. In his first interview he said Ashton had been unwell but was "a little bit energised" and was active on the day of his death. He said Ashton had a fever and was vomiting in the days after the party. He claimed they noticed Ashton was coming up with "a lotta bruises" two days before he died. Otuszewski said the bruises appeared to go away, but on the evening of 5 April (the day before Ashton died) "it seemed like they were just coming back". In relation to the incident with the hairbrush. Otuszewski said he gave Ashton a "little tap on the hand". He denied that he spent any time alone with Ashton that day, aside from a few minutes in the shower. He denied taking Ashton from the lounge to the couple's bedroom, and said Cresswell took him. "I got up to put a movie on through the TV, and [Cresswell] looked at me and I looked at Ashton and I noticed his mouth was moving, my brother had seizures a lot so I know what they look like. I jumped on the bed and checked him. I just told [Cresswell] to call the ambulance." He said Ashton was still breathing when they called an ambulance, however his lips had lost colour. He said Ashton was not dead before the 111 call. "I'm telling the honest truth. He wasn't deceased, he was talking and everything way before that." At his second interview, Otuszewski said he had not play-wrestled with Ashton after the birthday party, as he had been unwell. He said the day before his death Ashton was "not enthusiastic". "Ashton just wanted [Cresswell], you know, that last week ... he just wanted [Cresswell] for everything." He said on the day of Ashton's death the couple "sat down watching TV, smoking cannabis and oils" for most of the day. Ashton became more unwell from about midday. He was put to bed and seemed tired but wouldn't go to sleep. He said Cresswell left the house to get another tinny of cannabis, leaving Otuszewski alone with the children. He said he gave Ashton a bath while Cresswell was getting the cannabis and saw more bruises on him. Ashton was "quite limp ... he just acted real lazy". After the bath Ashton was put back in bed and the couple "had our next tinny". He had no explanation for the brain injury. "I'm not going to lie about killing my own boy, 'cos I didn't do it. I didn't hurt him. I didn't play wrestling with him for weeks. Probably a little push and all that, but he never hit his head." Detectives interviewed Otuszewski again in May 2018. Police quizzed him about Ashton potentially dying hours before the 111 call. "I'm gonna strongly sit here and say that he still spoke 5, 10 minutes before she called and I'm not lying about that, he really did say I love you mum," he said. "We went and got him from the mattress [in the lounge], brought him into the bedroom and then he ... said something like I loved you and then, and then I just seen his lips twitching and he started turning purple but his eyes was open and he said something in the bedroom between the time we moved him from the lounge room to the bedroom." 'History of violent behaviour' As part of the police investigation, detectives spoke to some of Otuszewski's former partners. The coroner says the investigation revealed a "recent history of violent behaviour". "Witness statements to Police recorded that Mr Otuszewski had physically and verbally assaulted previous partners, one while she was pregnant with his child." The coroner said there was evidence of Otuszewski "becoming angry at or violent" towards Cresswell's children. The coroner said Ashton's sister, then nine, told police Ashton was "scared of Peter" and "hated" him. She told police about an alleged incident about a week before Ashton died when he put him inside a shopping trolley and pushed it "really hard", causing it to crash into a gatepost and fall over. Ashton was "screaming, crying" and suffered a bump on his head and a black eye. Daley told police she thought Otuszewski was good with the kids but was "so rough when they played". In her second interview with police Cresswell said she'd told him she didn't like the rough play. "And every time we'd tell him not to, he'll just laugh and walk away and then about 10, 15 minutes later he's doing the same thing." 'Riddled with inconsistencies' Cresswell and Otuszewski were jointly charged with manslaughter in May 2018. The charge alleged that, without lawful excuse, the pair neglected their legal duty to provide Ashton with the necessities of life. The pair would later plead guilty to reduced charges of neglect of a child, through failure to provide Ashton's medical needs. At sentencing in August 2019, Justice Christine Grice told Cresswell Ashton was "completely defenceless and totally dependent" on her. Cresswell's evidence was "riddled with inconsistencies". "You say you had no knowledge of the abuse he suffered. Well, objectively that cannot be right. You have told a number of stories about why it happened, how it happened and why you are not to blame." Cresswell was sentenced to three years, 11 months imprisonment. Otuzsewski was jailed for four years and one month. Coroner Borrowdale opened an inquiry in 2021. She said the criminal prosecution did not identify all of the material facts about how Ashton died. She asked both Cresswell and Otuszewski whether they had any further information to provide. Cresswell indicated she wanted to provide a written statement, which never came. Borrowdale said the disputed elements remaining were how Ashton suffered the fatal injuries, when, and who inflicted them. She viewed three videos filmed by one of the couple's friends in December 2016, showing Otuszewski "playing roughly" with Ashton. "The videos make for disturbing viewing in light of subsequent events." She said Otuszewski was "totally focused on physically playing" with Ashton. "Ashton clamoured insatiably for more and more play. He can be seen giggling and laughing, and returning each time to Mr Otuszewski. However, the play itself was objectively highly dangerous." In each of the videos, Otuszewski would pick Ashton up and throw him from a height onto a double bed. The videos were reviewed by a neuropathologist who said it was "certainly possible" the type of play seen in the videos "could have resulted in a significant rotational head injury". The coroner had a lengthy list of "findings of fact", based on the evidence applying the "balance of probabilities standard of proof". The findings included that Ashton died from injuries sustained in a "violent and traumatic event or series of events" while in the couple's care. In applying the standard of proof, she found that the fatal injuries suffered by Ashton were "likely inflicted by Mr Otuszewski". "Either by misadventure during the course of rough, wrestling-type play or by otherwise striking, throwing, or pushing Ashton against a surface with enough force to cause his fatal injuries. There is ample evidence supporting both of these scenarios. "Mr Otuszewski had a history of violence, and of sudden, angry, physical outbursts. Ashton was fearful of him, and Mr Otuszewski had been seen to yell in his face, lift him off his feet in anger, smack him hard on the hand and back, and to throw him." She found it was "much less likely" Cresswell was responsible for the fatal injuries. "While it is possible that Ms Cresswell did not know how Ashton's injuries had been caused, I am satisfied that she knew that Mr Otuszewski had caused them and when they had been inflicted." The coroner found that most of the 65 bruises on Ashton's body were caused between 3-6 April. "I therefore find that the couple's emphasis to emergency responders on the sudden number and darkness of Ashton's bruises was an attempt to front-foot and explain a pattern of abuse." She believed it was "likely" Ashton suffered his fatal injuries on 5 April, and that he died early on 6 April. "In my assessment, Ms Cresswell and Mr Otuszewski concocted a false account of events to conceal that Mr Otuszewski had fatally injured Ashton and that he had while died in their care, without receiving any medical help, while they were using cannabis." 'I was not violent to that boy' After Otuszewski was released from jail, he was deported to Australia. In an interview with RNZ, he said Ashton was a "sweet little boy". "That kid was the Superman, like he was just unbelievable." Looking back Otuszewski, now 33, says his biggest issue was the amount of marijuana he was smoking. He started smoking when he was eight after his dad died, adding it was "the only thing that calmed me down". "I've blamed everything on weed to be honest," he says. "I didn't really want to do anything. I just wanted to sit at home. I just wanted to watch TV, play a game. I chose that over food or my bills. I chose weed over everything." He says he had little to do with Ashton in the days before his death, as he constantly wanted his mum. "All I did on the last maybe week of him passing away, was wanting to play my game, wanting to watch a movie, and wanting to have cones. That was, that was completely it. I didn't want anything else." He says Ashton was a little sick on the morning of 6 April. He wasn't eating and was eventually put into bed. The last time he recalls being alone with Ashton was when Cresswell left the home before it got dark. "He was in bed ... and he was just lethargic." He claims he first noticed bruising on Ashton when he gave him a bath. Asked about the 5-15 minute window Cresswell says he was with Ashton in the lounge, he now admits that he did bring Ashton in from the lounge to the couple's bedroom. However, he says he was "definitely not 15 minutes". "I went from the bedroom on one side of the house, I walked up the hallway to where the lounge room was ...The middle child was there as well. Ashton was crying and screaming. He had purple lips. I reckon it would have been maybe three minutes that I picked him up and ... I took him straight in to Alesha on the bed." Otuszewski, who has not read the coroner's report, disputes the evidence suggesting Ashton was already dead when the 111 call was made. "I swear and I will stick to this until the day I die. He was crying within minutes of us calling ... he had blue lips, 100 per cent he had blue lips. He was moving his eyes, and his fingers were still moving." He can't recall whether Ashton said "love you". "I have blanked a lot of that out of my life ... All I remember is, you talking about that right now, is them, me at the end of the bed with the phone in my hand, Alicia looking at Ashton with the purple lips, and then I vaguely remember her saying, I love you too." He was unable to explain how Ashton could have suffered the fatal injuries at least 15 to 18 hours before he died. He says he grew up watching wrestling on TV. When his son was about one, he would do some "tiny little wrestling" with him, and he "absolutely loved it". He did the same with Ashton and his brother. "Maybe the wrestling was a bit rough, I don't know, but at the end of the day, they laughed, they giggled about it." Asked about the videos referenced by the coroner, Otuszewski says Ashton "enjoyed all of that". "If he ever cried or didn't want to do it again, he would jump off the bed. That was the end of that. I would go make sure he's okay. He'd sit down play with his toys, then I would leave him alone." He said he did not play that way with Ashton on the day he died, or the day before. "He was too sick." He admitted he "may have gotten angry at the kids" for doing something wrong at times, but he was never violent. "The coroner can say what they want, but I can guarantee you one thing - I've never and never, nor will I ever, hurt a kid or another human in my whole goddamn life." Asked if he caused Ashton's death, Otuszewski said "no, not at all. Not from my knowledge". "I have not done anything to cause that. I mucked around with him the same I would my own child, and he loved it, and he's still walking around today. Unfortunately, Ashton's not, and I am terribly sorry about that, but the way I mucked around with him is the exact same way I mucked around with my son." Eight years on, he says he doesn't like being near children. When his partner's friends come to visit with their kids he leaves the house. "Because I feel like everyone just blamed me. That's the whole reason I took the plea deal is because I just felt like everything was just pointing at me, I was getting the blame for everything. "So in my mind, right now, you know, I feel like I have done it. They've convinced me enough to the point where I feel like I've done something, and I don't know what I've done, but I have." He says he arrived in Australia with nothing on his back. He now has a job and is no longer taking drugs. His partner has also moved over to live with him. He calls Asthon's' death the "darkest day of my life". "Every day when I think about that time of my life, I got to think about ... Why didn't I just walk him down to the doctors myself?" he says. "Why didn't I step up? Why? Why couldn't I do something? Why couldn't I take him to the doctor like I would my own child? Why? Why? Why did I choose drugs over a family. Every day, every day, I have regrets on stuff that I could have done, but I didn't." 'No-one saw what was coming' Near the bottom of Coroner Borrowdale's report, she says Ashton Cresswell was not a name "well-known to New Zealanders". "No-one was convicted of causing the non-accidental injuries that led to his death. No Government or support agency was involved in the protection of Ashton and his siblings from child abuse. "Ashton was not attending any pre-school when he died. No-one who had contact with Ashton, his mother, or her short-term partner foresaw that Ashton's life was at risk … no-one saw what was coming." Borrowdale made damning remarks in relation to the couple's attempted explanations of Ashton's injuries. "Ashton was 'careless' and 'clumsy' because he was tiny, vulnerable, and had developmental delays. "These characteristics ought to have led to Ashton being treated with kid gloves, receiving even more protection and care than an ordinarily robust four-year-old. It was grotesquely self-serving of his parent and caregiver, who I find were responsible for his death and its concealment, to have excused their violence and neglect by reference to Ashton's frailties." The coroner made several recommendations including that Oranga Tamariki (OT) should "more widely and effectively" publicise the risk factors for child abuse and that OT should publish guidance and resources for caregivers on "rough play" and the risks to children of drug use. She concluded by saying Ashton's death was a "tragedy". "It is shameful that Ashton died violently and prematurely, in his home and due to the actions - and inactions - of the people who were entrusted with his care and safety. I offer my sincere condolences to those who knew and loved Ashton." 'My little boy' Central District manager of criminal investigations Inspector Craig Sheridan told RNZ in a statement police conducted a "full and thorough" criminal investigation following Ashton's death. Police were obligated to consider any potential charges in accordance with the Solicitor General's Prosecution Guidelines. This means they must be satisfied there is a "reasonable prospect of conviction, based on the available evidence". "This is, quite rightly, an extremely high threshold." The evidence supported the resulting charges of neglect, he said. "Police acknowledge the Coroner's findings in relation to Ashton's tragic and entirely avoidable death." He said there was no ongoing investigation. Oranga Tamariki chief social worker Nicolette Dickson said Asthon's death was "deeply tragic". "New Zealand has a poor record of keeping children safe and combatting this problem is our collective responsibility. "Our kaimahi are embedded in the community having conversations every day with whānau, community groups, partners and other agencies, raising awareness about family harm, the signs, causes and solutions." This included discussions about drug use, safe parenting, and what to look for if someone suspects harm to a child. Oranga Tamariki was also continuing to publicly acknowledge the importance of speaking up when something isn't right. "If you believe a child in is immediate danger, call 111. If you are worried about a child and want to make a report of concern, you can freephone us on 0508 326 459." Eight years on from Ashton's death, his grandmother says it's "frustrating" Otuszewski was not charged with causing Ashton's death. "They couldn't find any proof ... but they did a good job. They did what they could do." She says Cresswell has had three more children since then, and has a "very good partner" who treats her well. Daley has photos of Ashton "everywhere" in her home, as well as the playhouse he could often be seen playing in, and some of his toys. She recently gave his urn to his older sister who now has her brother in her bedroom where she talks to him. Daley misses the little boy dearly. "I can't really talk about Ashton to anybody because I get too upset." Instead, she thinks back to the day of the birthday party, seeing the little four-year-old on the balance bike with a smile across his face. "That was our last good memory of him." Where to get help: If it is an emergency and you feel like you or someone else is at risk, call 111.
Scoop
a day ago
- Scoop
Top New Zealand Rower Arrested In The US Following Post-Regatta Incident
Rowing NZ has launched an investigation into a recent tour to the United States, after a top New Zealand rower was arrested for assault following an incident at a post-regatta celebration. RNZ has learned Zack Rumble, a member of the New Zealand men's elite team, missed his flight home from the US tour as he was in police custody following his arrest on suspicion of assault on 3 May. The national team, made up of a men's and women's eight crew, had been in Seattle for the prestigious Windermere Cup. According to records with Washington State's Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention (DAJD), Rumble was held for 45 hours in the King County Correctional Facility in Seattle before being released without charge on 5 May. It is understood the alleged assault occurred at a private event at the Seattle Yacht Club, in which the New Zealand team were invited guests. A source with knowledge of the incident, who did not want to be identified, said the fracas occurred after an evening of drinking. The DAJD records indicate Rumble was arrested at 11.58pm - nearly 12 hours after the prize-giving festivities kicked off. The source said they believed the arrest was a result of a "misunderstanding with police, in a country where you really don't want to have misunderstandings with police". Another New Zealand athlete was said to have been present at the time of the incident, but was not involved. Rowing NZ chief executive Simon Wickham declined to be interviewed, but in a statement confirmed an incident had occurred on the tour involving a member of the men's eight, which meant "that athlete was not able to return home with the remainder of the team". "Rowing New Zealand made sure that athlete had our full support in the United States and their welfare was our first priority at the time. We had one of our Rowing NZ coaching team remain on the ground in Seattle to support the athlete concerned," Wickham said. "This was a distressing time for the athlete and our team members and Rowing NZ has worked hard to make sure the athletes and coaches in our care have the support around them they need." Wickham added Rowing NZ has engaged prominent sports lawyer Don Mackinnon to lead an independent review of the tour to "seek learnings and recommendations". But the national body's handling of the episode is reportedly causing division among the athletes in the Rowing NZ's elite squad. Sources have told RNZ some athletes are uneasy about being swept up in a broad, team-wide probe due to the actions of an individual, while others are concerned about the impact the incident will have on the team's upcoming World Cup and World Championship campaign. It is understood Rumble, who had been selected for the upcoming World Cup events in Italy and Switzerland, resumed training with the team shortly after returning to New Zealand. Asked whether the athlete would still be travelling to Europe in light of the events of earlier this month, Rowing NZ said the team announced on 21 March will attend the next World Cup event in Varese, Italy. Rowing NZ insists its approach has been measured and appropriate. "We have responded proactively with an independent review," said Wickham. "It would be premature to comment on any outcomes or actions until that review has concluded." Commodore of the Seattle Yacht Club, Randy Holbrook, declined to comment on the 3 May incident "to maintain the integrity" of Rowing's NZ's review process. However Holbrook said the New Zealand coaching staff displayed "exemplary professionalism in working with us". "We recognise New Zealand as one of the world's top rowing programmes and we'd be honoured to welcome them back to our Club on any future trips to the US Pacific Northwest." The Windermere Cup is an annual rowing event held as part of the Seattle Yacht Club's opening day of the boating season. Aimed at showcasing the might of the University of Washington's rowing programme, each year the college invites international teams to contest the trophy. This year Rowing NZ were invited to send a women's and men's eights crew to the regatta. The New Zealand men finished second behind the Washington crew, which included three oarsmen from New Zealand: Ben Shortt, Harry Fitzpatrick and Olympic silver medallist Logan Ullrich. In response to written questions, a spokesperson for the University of Washington said the organisation "would not have any comment on this". High Performance Sport NZ, which provides $6 million in annual funding to Rowing NZ's elite programmes, are understood to have been briefed on the incident and are being kept updated on the review. RNZ has attempted to contact Rumble without success.
