\u201cMy life changed forever. I was only 11 years old \u2026 waiting patiently \u2026 I remember seeing people suddenly rushing around, police gathering. At that moment I did not understand what was happening. I did not realise the person involved was my mother,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I learned the truth, I felt as though my world had collapsed \u2026 I could not fully understand how something so terrible could happen. What I did understand was that the person who cared for me every day was gone. <\/p>\n
The Tunidau family in the inquest today. Credit: Pool \/ Nate McKinnon<\/p>\n
\u201cFrom that day onward, I carried a pain that no child should ever carry. The days, weeks, months, and years that followed were some of the darkest years of my life. <\/p>\n
\u201cOften, I feel broken \u2026 moments when sadness felt so heavy that I didn\u2019t know how to express it. The grief was not something that disappeared after the funeral or after a few months. It stayed with me and became part of my everyday life.”<\/p>\n
The murder of Laisa Waka <\/p>\n
The inquest before Coroner Alexandra Cunninghame opened with a crowded courtroom, where 18 lawyers appeared on behalf of Health NZ and the clinicians and agencies involved in Hussein\u2019s care.<\/p>\n
In November 2022, Hussein was sentenced to life in prison after earlier pleading guilty to murdering Waka. <\/p>\n
Hussein was an inpatient at Hillmorton Hospital in Christchurch at the time. <\/p>\n
Ten years before the murder, he had been jailed for a stabbing rampage, nearly killing a man.<\/p>\n
The day Waka died, Hussein was granted community leave from the hospital. He left about 2.30pm, took a bus to Sockburn and started walking to his family home.<\/p>\n
Laisa Waka Tunidau was a beloved mother. Credit: Pool \/ Nate McKinnon<\/p>\n
On the way, he became angry about some issues arising at the hospital. <\/p>\n
While walking, he saw a man mowing his lawn and decided to stab him. At his family\u2019s house, he took a steak knife from the kitchen drawer and put it in his pocket.<\/p>\n
But as he went outside, he thought it was too close to home and did not want his own family to witness anything.<\/p>\n
As he walked down Cheyenne St, he came across Waka walking. She was returning from work and just metres from her family home. <\/p>\n
Zakariye Hussein was jailed for life in the High Court at Christchurch. Photo \/ George Heard<\/p>\n
Hussein took out the knife and stabbed her repeatedly around her chest as she tried to protect herself.<\/p>\n
He later pleaded guilty to a charge of murder and was sentenced in the High Court at Christchurch. <\/p>\n
Coroner Cunninghame later ruled an inquest would be held in a bid to find out what, if anything, could have been done differently and whether Waka\u2019s death was preventable. <\/p>\n
Today she opened the inquest with a karakia before welcoming Waka\u2019s family – particularly her husband, Nemani Tunidau, their sons, Eparama and Epineri, and daughter, Dontey.<\/p>\n
Harrowing family statements read<\/p>\n
In his statement, Eparama said he \u201cstruggled with feelings of unfairness\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cI would ask myself why my mother had been taken away from me. I would look at other children with their mothers and wish that I could have those moments – what many people see as simple things became things I had lost,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe hardest part has been learning how to grow up without my mum. Very important milestones remind me that she\u2019s not here. She cannot hug me after school; she cannot tell me she is proud of me. She cannot comfort me when I\u2019m upset or encourage me when I am struggling. <\/p>\n
\u201cAs I approach my 16th birthday, I feel the weight of her absence even more deeply because these are the years when young people most need their mum.\u201d<\/p>\n
Eparama said his grief felt like \u201ccarrying a war inside of me\u201d.<\/p>\n
He said on the outside, he tried to be strong, but on the inside he was battling sadness.<\/p>\n
\u201cHer death continues to affect me at every stage of my life, every milestone \u2026 is also a reminder of someone who should be there, but is not,” he said. <\/p>\n
\u201cLosing my mother \u2026 changed the way I saw the world. I think about my mum every single day – her memory remains a part of everything I do. <\/p>\n
\u201cWhile time has helped me learn how to carry my grief, it has not removed it. The emptiness remains; that wound is still there. The pain has changed over time, but it has never disappeared. <\/p>\n
\u201cThere are still days when I wish I could hear her voice, ask her for advice, or receive one more hug \u2026 The reality is that I must continue living with this loss for the rest of my life. My mother\u2019s life mattered – she was deeply loved and she is deeply missed. The loss of my mother \u2026 has left a space in my heart that can never be filled.\u201d<\/p>\n
From left Nemani Tunidau, Eparama Tunidau and Laisa Waka.<\/p>\n
Waka\u2019s elder son, Epineri, was working as a police officer in Fiji when his mother died.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe last time I saw my mother alive was in 2018 when she visited Fiji. Four years later, she returned not as the loving mother I remembered, but in a coffin,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat image is something I will carry with me for the rest of my life. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe manner in which my mother\u2019s life was taken remains deeply difficult for me to understand and accept. No mother, no parent, and no human being deserves to lose their life in such circumstances.\u201d<\/p>\n
Epineri believed his mother\u2019s death was the result of \u201csystemic failures and decision-making processes that did not adequately recognise or manage the risks\u201d Hussein posed. <\/p>\n
\u201cThat ultimately cost us so much … and we have all had to learn how to live with a loneliness that can never truly be filled,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Laisa Waka Tunidau was laid to rest. Image \/ Facebook <\/p>\n
\u201cWe have tried to move forward, and we continue to do our best to find healing. We have tried to forgive even when the pain feels overwhelming. Yet nothing can replace the love, compassion, wisdom, honesty, and strength that mum brought into our lives. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe hardest lesson we have been forced to learn is how to continue living without her. <\/p>\n
\u201cNothing can bring my mother back; however, I hope the court understands the profound and lasting impact her death has had on … our entire family. We do not grieve only for the life that was taken away from her. We grieve for the years we have lost with her, with the memories that we\u2019ll never make and the moments we will never have the chance to share. <\/p>\n
\u201cMum was deeply loved. Her life mattered. Her absence is felt every single day.\u201d<\/p>\n
Family \u2018tired of not getting answers\u2019<\/p>\n
Waka\u2019s daughter, Dontey, said she was \u201ctired of not getting answers\u201d and hoped Coroner Cunninghame could help the family get the information they desperately needed. <\/p>\n
\u201cI understand that Hillmorton Hospital as a whole didn\u2019t commit the crime,\u201d she told the court.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut had the staff taken the right precautions, Zach wouldn\u2019t have walked off the premises.\u201d<\/p>\n
She said it had been \u201ca struggle\u201d trying to adjust to life without her mother.<\/p>\n
\u201cThrough her we felt love and peace \u2013 and she was our home,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve suffered so much … and I don\u2019t want anybody else to lose their loved ones simply because somebody neglected and overlooked their duties in taking the right precautions. <\/p>\n
The inquest is underway in Christchurch. Photo \/ George Heard<\/p>\n
Nemani Tunidai said the depth of his family\u2019s loss was \u201cbeyond words\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe was the heart of our family … she brought guidance, strength, and stability into our lives. The pain of losing her remains in me today and will remain with me for the rest of my life,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe continually ask why this tragedy occurred and whether it could have been prevented. This question weighs heavily on our hearts.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nemani said it was \u201cpainful\u201d that \u201cmistakes and systematic failures occurred\u201d and now \u201caccountability is crucial\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cAcknowledgement of those failures is an important step towards truth, acceptance, healing, and forgiveness,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is our sincere hope that a meaningful lesson can be learned from this tragedy. We hope that [Laisa\u2019s] death becomes a catalyst for positive changes within the system and workplace where Mr Hussein was being cared for. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe hope improvement in safeguarding practices, risk management and accountability will help prevent another family from experiencing the loss and suffering that we continue to endure.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nemani said nothing could restore the years his children have lived without their mother or replace the memories, opportunities and future that were taken from her.<\/p>\n
\u201cFrom us,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cNevertheless, I stand before the court, seeking truth, accountability and opportunity for a lesson to be learned. This inquest is not only about what happened to my wife … it\u2019s about leadership, decision-making, and ensuring that those entrusted with the care and safety of others are held accountable for the decisions they make.\u201d<\/p>\n
From left, Laisa Waka Tuniday, daughter Dontey, son Eparama and husband Nemani.<\/p>\n
Nemani said it was hard to adequately describe the loss of Waka.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy children did not just lose a mother, they lost a guidance, a comfort, a wisdom, her encouragement and the unconditional love that only the mother can provide,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI did not simply lose a wife. I lost my life partner, my closest friend, my confidant, and the person with whom I plan to grow old.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe loss is permanent. This is the sentence our family continues to serve, every single day. <\/p>\n
\u201cOne of the hardest realities for us has been coming to understand that Laisa\u2019s death was not simply the result of the tragic event. Evidence has shown that there were opportunities for intervention, opportunities for better decision-making, opportunities for safeguards.\u201d<\/p>\n
In his family\u2019s case, the consequence of missed opportunities was fatal.<\/p>\n
\u201cA loving mother never returned home for her children. Her life was taken from her husband. Her family was broken forever,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
No findings, recommendation, or acknowledgement could change this reality. However, what could come from this tragedy was a commitment to learning from it.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe greatest injustice would be if nothing changed.\u201d<\/p>\n
Inquest focuses on killer – not victim <\/p>\n
Coroner Cunninghame said many people had been impacted by Waka\u2019s death but none more than her husband and children. <\/p>\n
\u201cI offer you my sincerest condolences on the tragic loss of your treasured wife and mother,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n
\u201cI know that during an inquest, it can feel to families as if their loved one is lost in technical details or in legal bargaining. I\u2019m also conscious that in this inquest, the focus of the evidence is actually on Mr Hussein and on the clinicians who cared for him. <\/p>\n
Coroner Alexandra Cunninghame. Photo \/ Pool<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd so for this reason, I want to ensure you, her family members, that I will keep Laisa in my mind as we proceed through the evidence.\u201d<\/p>\n
Coroner Cunninghame said she \u201ccannot overlook\u201d that Waka\u2019s killer was \u201cburdened by mental illness\u201d.<\/p>\n
She noted that he had chosen not to participate in the inquest process.<\/p>\n
She also acknowledged the Hillmorton clinicians involved in his care.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe practice of medicine is difficult, and there are particular challenges which arise in the mental health setting, and I know that for some witnesses being required to attend court for cross-examination has been a daunting prospect,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI hope that we can work together to create an atmosphere which is not unduly stressful for those people. I remind everyone that an inquest is about working together. In this courtroom \u2026 everyone will treat each other with respect.\u201d<\/p>\n
Stephanie Grieve, KC, is counsel assisting Coroner Cunninghame. She explained the purpose and intent of the inquest and who would be giving evidence about the \u201cunimaginable tragedy\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe purpose of an inquest is to investigate the causes and circumstances of the person\u2019s death, make recommendations or comments to prevent future deaths in similar circumstances,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe overriding purpose of an inquest is to establish facts rather than to apportion blame but, in some circumstances, the Coroner may comment adversely on the conduct of a person where their actions or inactions appear to have caused or contributed in some way to the death.\u201d<\/p>\n
Laisa Waka was on her way home from work when she was murdered. Photo \/ Supplied<\/p>\n
Grieve said the issues for Coroner Cunninghame to determine around the circumstances leading up to Waka\u2019s murder included whether the assessment and management by Health New Zealand of Hussein\u2019s risk to himself and others was \u201cadequate and appropriate\u201d.<\/p>\n
She would consider the prescription and management of Hussein\u2019s medication; the \u201cmanagement and consequence\u201d of incidents involving threats or assaults on staff or others and the extent to which these incidents were considered in relation to decisions to grant leave; how his community leave was managed and monitored and whether factors relevant to his risk were adequately and appropriately considered before that leave was approved. <\/p>\n
Grieve said the Coroner would also probe \u201cany other factors, which may have impacted on the adequacy of care, management, or risk management or risk assessment\u201d of Hussein, including resourcing issues such as staffing, training and the \u201cexperience and expertise of staff involved in his care\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd what changes or improvements Health New Zealand has made since 25 June, 2022, to ensure the risk to the community posed by patients such as Mr Hussein is better assessed, mitigated or managed \u2013 and whether recommendations \u2026 should be made for the purpose of reducing the chances of further deaths.\u201d<\/p>\n
HNZ \u2018apologise\u2019 for \u2018deep tragedy\u2019<\/p>\n
Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand\u2019s lawyer, Jonathan Coates, gave a brief opening address after Waka\u2019s family spoke. <\/p>\n
\u201cAt the outset, I start first and foremost by acknowledging that Mrs Waka\u2019s death has been such a deep tragedy for her family,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
\u201cHealth New Zealand and the Canterbury region\u2019s forensic mental Health Service expressed their sincere condolences to the family and apologise unreservedly that a patient in its care committed the horrendous murder of Mrs Waka, a completely innocent victim.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hillmorton Hospital. Photo \/ NZ Herald<\/p>\n
Coates also acknowledged the \u201cextraordinary dignity and grace\u201d of Waka\u2019s family in court as well as the impact the tragedy has had on the killer\u2019s family and the health professionals involved in his care and management. <\/p>\n
\u201cHealth New Zealand \u2026 publicly states its support for its psychiatrists, for its nurses, psychologists and healthcare assistants that were involved in making the decisions about Mr Hussein\u2019s treatment and his leave. <\/p>\n
\u201cThese were highly experienced and well-qualified health professionals who clearly cared. They were making complex risk assessments in an extremely demanding environment. <\/p>\n
\u201cOf course, there is regret that Mr Hussein was granted unescorted leave on the 25th of June 2022 but Health New Zealand says the evidence will show that this is not a case where there have been blase or cavalier health professionals simply ignoring or overlooking the relevant considerations.\u201d<\/p>\n
Coates said the \u201ccentral issue\u201d for Coroner Cunninghame was the \u201cappropriateness of the decision-making\u201d that led to Hussein being granted leave on the day of Waka\u2019s murder. <\/p>\n
\u201cInevitably, the question arises as to whether there has been any treatment failure,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cTaking into account all the context, [Coroner Cunninghame] will need to consider whether the first were actions that the forensic mental Health Service could have taken, and more importantly should have taken, to reduce the risk of what happened. That is, were there things a reasonable forensic mental health service would have done differently and if so … whether any such treatment failures were causative of Mrs Waka\u2019s death. <\/p>\n
\u201cClearly never letting Mr Hussein out of a locked unit would have prevented Mrs Waka\u2019s death on the 25th of June 2022 but that would have been a dereliction of Health New Zealand\u2019s legal obligations … it\u2019s essential to remind ourselves that this was a healthcare setting, not a prison or a corrections facility. Mr Hussein was a patient, not a prisoner.\u201d<\/p>\n
Coates told the court that in the 57 days between Hussein\u2019s leave being authorised and Waka\u2019s death, he left Hillmorton without supervision \u201con at least 35 occasions\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd returned to the unit without incident,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
Witnesses are now being called to give evidence.<\/p>\n
The inquest will be held over three weeks in September, November and December. <\/p>\n
During that time, more than 20 doctors, psychologists, psychiatrists and nurses who were part of Hussein\u2019s care and the decision to release him into the community will give evidence.<\/p>\n
Most of them have interim name suppression. <\/p>\n
Anna Leask is a senior journalist who covers Christchurch issues and national crime and justice. She joined the Herald in 2008 and has worked as a journalist for more than 20 years with a particular focus on family and gender-based violence, child abuse, sexual violence and homicides. She writes, hosts and produces the award-winning podcast A Moment In Crime, released monthly on nzherald.co.nz<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\u201cMy life changed forever. I was only 11 years old \u2026 waiting patiently \u2026 I remember seeing people…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":599670,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[74,25445,89,9218,52364,4487,1259,50071,634,16639,24305,117583,168660,43945,3011,71,134,1345,11551,13999,14235,95690,295633,1885,36660,6178,11692,111,43,139,69,1597,2887,72230,123952,1361,1865,162433,49756,295634,1533,1530],"class_list":["post-599669","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-new-zealand","tag-after","tag-allowed","tag-attack","tag-before","tag-beginning","tag-christchurch","tag-community","tag-coronial","tag-death","tag-decisions","tag-enraged","tag-examine","tag-examines","tag-failures","tag-four","tag-from","tag-health","tag-home","tag-hours","tag-inquest","tag-killer","tag-killers","tag-laisa","tag-mental","tag-metres","tag-mother","tag-nearly","tag-new-zealand","tag-news","tag-newzealand","tag-nz","tag-patient","tag-release","tag-stabbed","tag-systemic","tag-that","tag-today","tag-unimaginable","tag-waka","tag-wakas","tag-will","tag-years"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/599669","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=599669"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/599669\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/599670"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=599669"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=599669"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=599669"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}