Abusive messages are being left on convicted child abuser Oriwa Kemp's Facebook page by people outraged at the thought of her having a baby.
Kemp was jailed for three years and four months in February 2009 after a High Court jury convicted her of mistreating and assaulting Rotorua toddler Nia Glassie in the months leading up her violent death in August 2007.
In December last year, Kemp was released from prison on six months' post-release conditions, including not being allowed contact with children under 16. She served her full sentence.
She is free to live life without restrictions and has set up an open Facebook page where her friends are congratulating her on her pregnancy carrying twins and asking if she has had her twins yet.
The topics have outraged Facebook users, with people making comments on the social networking site saying: "i cnt beleve she is pregnant AND not only that but shes aparntly having twins. What the hell, there r people that cant have kids and would do anythng to have a child when there is no way in hell she deservs any kids" (sic).
Kemp is now living in Auckland and a blurry profile photograph on her page shows her giving an obscene gesture.
However, former head of Women's Refuge, Rotorua's Merepeka Raukawa-Tait, who presented submissions to coroner Wallace Bain during the inquest into Nia's death, told The Daily Post Kemp had just as much as right to have a child as everyone else.
In the last few months of Nia's life, her family shared a home with the then 17-year-old Kemp, her own toddler - born when she was 15 - and her partner, Michael Curtis, who was convicted of the 3-year-old's violent death.
During this final period in Nia's life, Kemp abused Nia by throwing shoes and balls at her, calling her ugly, was involved in forcing the toddler outside in the cold and into a sandpit naked. She was also present when Nia was put on a clothesline, which was spun around until she fell to the ground.
Kemp, her partner, his brother Wiremu Curtis, 18, Nia's mother Lisa Kuka, and the toddler's cousin Michael Pearson, 21, were all jailed in relation to the toddler's death.
Mrs Raukawa-Tait hoped Kemp had the support to be a caring parent.
"People make these choices. I hope it was a conscious choice for her and her partner," she said.
"I would like to think the different social services agencies are involved with her now because, the fact is, she does have history. That can't be discounted. There needs to be a punitive approach to ensure she has support, is in a safe place, and what her current lifestyle is."
It was vital any children born to someone convicted of child abuse crimes was kept safe, Mrs Raukawa-Tait said.
"I'd hope there are checks and balances in place. There needs to be steps in place to ensure the safety of the child," she said.
"I hope she has learnt from her mistakes," she said.
Child, Youth and Family head of operations Marama Wiki said in any case where there were "serious" safety concerns for children, including unborn children, children were removed to a place of safety with other family members deemed safe or approved caregivers.
These situations included where parents had been convicted of child abuse, domestic violence crimes or where previous children had been removed, Ms Wiki said.
"Ultimately, our priority is that child's welfare."
Courts can also grant orders for the removal of babies at birth.
The agency stops involvement with the family once it is satisfied the child is safe.
"It's the responsibility of everyone to raise concerns in the event women become pregnant who they know have a history of abusive behaviour or convictions," Ms Wiki said.
