Hawke’s Bay man arrested for indecent communication with teenager

A 46-year-old Hawke’s Bay man has been arrested and charged following an investigation into alleged indecent communications with a young teenage girl.

The man, who was arrested on Friday, October 4, is facing multiple charges, including three counts of indecent communication with a person under the age of 16 and one count of traveling to meet a young person for the purpose of sexual grooming.

The arrest came after a joint investigation by Hawke’s Bay Police and OCEANZ (Online Child Exploitation Across New Zealand). Detective Sergeant Alex Macdonald said OCEANZ had received information indicating the man had attempted to contact young girls with the intention of committing sexual abuse.

“These types of offenses in our communities are deeply concerning,” Detective Sergeant Macdonald said. “It highlights the importance of vigilance around online safety, especially for children and young people.”

Macdonald also said parents should use the current school holidays as an opportunity to discuss online safety with their children. Tools are available on the police website to support these conversations.

The suspect was due to appear in Hastings District Court today.

Detective Senior Sergeant John McCarthy, of the Hawke’s Bay Police Child Protection Team, said the investigation is ongoing and authorities have not ruled out the possibility of identifying further victims.

“We will continue to work with OCEANZ to ensure those who target young people are held accountable for their actions,” McCarthy said. He also encouraged anyone concerned about criminal behavior targeting children to contact police for investigation.”