Police bust 'highest end' paedophile ring

An international paedophile ring with New Zealand connections has been exposed by police, saving four children from further abuse, police say.

Aaron John Ellmers, 41, appeared in Hastings District Court today where he pleaded guilty to about 60 charges including sexual violation of children, stupefying, making an intimate visual recording, dealing in people for sexual exploitation and attempted sexual conduct with a child under 12.

He was remanded in custody for sentence in the High Court at Hastings in May.

Crown prosecutor Steve Manning said it was at the "absolute highest end'' of child sexual offending in the country, and successfully argued for sentencing to be moved to the High Court.

Ellmers also had a previous conviction for similar offending in Australia, the court was told.

Two other New Zealand men, in Canterbury and Auckland, also face several charges including sexual violation of children and making, possessing and distributing child abuse images, police said.

The arrests follow a police operation targeting paedophiles in New Zealand and overseas which began in July last year and involved staff across the country including Northland, Auckland, eastern, Canterbury and southern districts.

As a result, four New Zealand children, aged 13 months to 13 years, had been saved from further abuse and police had made 35 referrals to authorities in Australia, the United Kingdom, United States of America and Canada, said Detective Senior Sergeant John Michael, head of OCEANZ, which is part of the National Criminal Investigations Group.

"This offending is like a spider web which has got wider and wider, involving offenders both here and overseas. Those facing charges have allegedly abused children, recorded that abuse and distributed it amongst themselves and overseas.''

The nature and depravity of this man's offending has "wreaked havoc on so many lives'', said Detective Senior Sergeant David Greig, head of the Eastern District child protection team.

Mr Michael said police were continuing to build their ability to infiltrate such offending, in New Zealand and overseas.

"Child victims almost always know their offenders, who have gained their trust and that of their parents, before the offending occurs. We urge parents and caregivers to be alert to the signs of this kind of abuse, but not alarmed,'' he said.

He urged parents who have concerns about an adult's behaviour or find disturbing images on any computers to contact the police or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.