Newshub can reveal details of a major multi-agency investigation into alleged child exploitation, which resulted in six young circus acrobats being uplifted and returned to their parents in China.
The investigation was led by Oranga Tamariki, but also involved Police, Immigration New Zealand, Worksafe and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The alleged exploitation occurred at Zirka Circus, according to Family Court files obtained by Newshub. Zirka Circus has put on shows across New Zealand for the past decade using Chinese magicians, contortionists and acrobats - some as young as 11-years-old.
But Oranga Tamariki claimed the children's living conditions were "squalid", their medical and dental needs were "neglected", and they didn't get a proper education while touring New Zealand over many years.
Zirka Circus is now in liquidation - but the former owners Jeni and Judy Hou dispute the allegations saying the authorities were "unfair and unreasonable".
Zirka Circus was advertised as a show like no other.
With displays of extreme flexibility, stunts and aerial acrobatics, the touring circus visited every major centre in the country.
But behind the showbiz hype, authorities became increasingly concerned. Paula Attrill, Oranga Tamariki's International Casework and Adoption General Manager described what their social workers found as "very serious".
"We are definitely talking exploitation of the children for their labour. The children were here as circus performers but it didn't stop there. The children were involved in activities around assembling tents and moving equipment around and things like that," she told Newshub.
- If you have more information, contact Michael Morrah in confidence on michael_morrah@discovery.com
As well as concerns over the children's working conditions, Oranga Tamariki identified problems with the children's sleeping arrangements.
Newshub obtained photos of Zirka's caravans taken by Oranga Tamariki in December 2020, during a visit to the Circus's site in Porirua.
Once described as "state of the art" by circus owners, the caravans appeared filthy and cluttered. One room had fuel canisters on the floor.
Other photos showed toilets blocked. During another visit to the circus a month earlier in Rotorua, the kitchen was unclean.
"I've seen the photos and I would describe their living environment as squalid," Attrill told Newshub.
But the former circus owners, sisters Jeni and Judy Hou, claim the images don't tell the full story. Jeni Hou said she was disappointed with how she and her business were treated by Oranga Tamariki.
"We feel the way they treated us was unfair and unreasonable. Because we opened our heart and tried to work with them," she said.
Jeni and Judy Hou are something of circus royalty back in China. Their family's been involved in it for three generations.
They described messy rooms as "typical" of teenagers and say OT's photos were taken when they were in transition and caravans were packed to travel to another site.
That's rejected by Oranga Tamarki's investigators.
"No, I just don't accept those claims. We visited on a few occasions and the situation for the children from what we could see wasn't improving," Attrill said.
The former circus owners provided Newshub photos showing the caravans and sleeping quarters looking clean and claimed performers were like family. Judy Hou told Newshub they provided their young performers with a qualified cook, and took them sightseeing on multiple occasions.
Jeni Hou denied ever exploiting or neglecting the children.
"No, we were very happy as a family. Honestly, we are very happy traveling together."
But Court files obtained by Newshub show a different story.
The first report of concern over "neglect" was received in 2012.
In 2015, a doctor notified authorities about potential "child labour" and "overworking a child".
In 2020, a complaint was lodged about the children's living conditions, their lack of access to education and not having parents being with them
And in early 2021, concerns over their small, poorly ventilated accommodation were raised.
Oranga Tamariki said they had to compile adequate evidence before seeking an order to intervene.
"In hindsight when I look back over the case, I honestly don't think we had the grounds to act sooner to take the action that we ended up taking," she said.
That action was to seek a Place of Safety Warrant from the Family Court to take six children out of the circus. It was approved in August 2021, social workers and police moved in.
The uplift wasn't straightforward. Court documents include allegations made that a circus staff member became "verbally aggressive" towards social workers. And Judi Hou "physically pulled" on two of the children as they were taken away. Although she told Newshub she was actually comforting the children as they were upset.
The drama didn't end there.
Oranga Tamariki's investigators said Judi Hou then sent WeChat messages to the children in Oranaga Tamariki's custody urging them not to complete evidential video interviews.
Judi Hou denies this, saying she was unaware the children were asked to do interviews.
Attrill believes the owners tried to "coach" and "control" the children in their care.
"These are common features of children or even adults in situations of exploitation. We'd been worried about elements of coercion all the way through, so it was no surprise that that continued after the children came into our care."
Included in its submission to the court was an affidavit from a senior Oranga Tamariki social worker that reinforced all the earlier concerns.
- The children had "not received any consistent and meaningful education" despite touring New Zealand for four years.
- Their medical and dental needs "had been neglected".
- None of the children had parents with them.
- There was concern the children had not received proper wages.
"I mean I would describe it as pretty murky as to what the kids had received and where payments had been made to. It is deplorable that the kids have gone back without the benefit of what many kids have when they come to NZ in terms of education," Attrill said.
Again, all these allegations are disputed, including the disagreement over money. Jeni Hou told Newshub they always paid the performers correct wages.
Despite this, the Court agreed with Oranga Tamariki's concerns. It was in October 2021, amid COVID lockdowns, that Oranga Tamariki flew the children back to China to be reunited with their parents.
"The feedback from the young people and their families have been expressions of gratitude and thanks. For me, that's the ultimate indication that we've done a good job," Attrill said.
A Family Court judge described Oranga Tamariki's work as "heartening". But the case is not over yet, with Immigration New Zealand confirming to Newshub it's still investigating.
"Our investigation is centered on allegations of possible migrant exploitation. To protect the integrity of the investigation and privacy of the individuals involved, we are unable to comment further on this," a spokesperson said.
Now retired Family Court Judge John Adams granted Newshub's application to review the case file and report on it, noting that it was a story that "warrants public scrutiny."
"It raises some serious disquiet about the structures by which the young people were admitted to New Zealand because they were vulnerable to be taken advantage of," Judge Adams said.
Between 2019-2021, Zirka Circus had 16 children between 11-18 years old working in New Zealand on Entertainment Work visas.
They were aged between 15 and 18 when they were flown home. While six children under the age of 18 were uplifted, one of the minors turned 18 while in Oranga Tamariki's custody and decided to make their own way back to China. A seventh performer who was already 18 years old decided to leave the circus with authorities voluntarily.
Michael Morrah will have more on this story, and reveal why the Immigration Minister is looking at changing rules as a result of the case on Thursday.
The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment encourages anyone who knows of similar offending to report it immediately.
This can be done via MBIE's contact centre on 0800 20 90 20. Alternatively, they can be reported to police or anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or via the online Crimestoppers form.
