A woman social worker is facing a string of sexual offence charges, including allegedly grooming a teenage boy. Auckland’s Waitemata Police have charged the 34-year-old Oranga Tamariki staff member in relation to alleged sexual offending against a 15-year-old. The charges include meeting a young person under 16 following sexual grooming, having sexual conduct with a person under 16 and exposing a young person to indecent material. “We cannot rule out the possibility of further charges being laid,” Detective Senior Sergeant Megan Goldie said. Goldie said police could not provide further details as the matter was before the court. The woman was suspended when Oranga Tamariki, the Ministry for Children, was told about the allegations, its deputy chief executive of services for children and families, Alison McDonald, said. “We are appalled at the allegations, which are shocking and deeply upsetting. “We are working with the young person and their family to do all we can to make sure they get the support they need.” McDonald said the organisation would continue to work with police as they investigated the allegations.
