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Help Whānau Find Justice For Jason Butler

$9,805 of $40,000 goal

Given by 188 generous donors in around 12 months

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Raising funds to seek justice for missing man Jason Butler.

Omaio, Bay of Plenty

In October 2021, mentally-ill father of ten Jason Butler was taken into the rugged Raukūmara ranges for an overnight work trial.

Totally unprepared for such dangerous work, Jason was in the worst physical and mental health of his life. He had been sectioned under the Mental Health Act earlier that month.

Jason went into the bush under the 'supervision' of a Ngā Whenua Rāhui contractor. He was wearing inappropriate clothing and had no food, water or safety equipment.

Jason's whānau have not seen him again. He's now presumed deceased.

His whānau are devastated. They believe he was failed by those who should have kept such a vulnerable member of our community safe, and find him – or what happened to him – after he disappeared.

A coronial enquiry is underway, but Jason's whānau fear they will not get answers to important pātai, including:

Why Jason was allowed to leave hospital earlier than agreed with his care team, without whānau notification, his wallet and phone charger, or follow up care?

Why police said Jason had "just wandered off" and why they did not make contact with whānau until after media became involved?

Why WorkSafe refused to investigate?

Why it took media involvement for Ngā Whenua Rāhui to agree to a formal meeting?

Why DOC has not acknowledged Jason or made contact with his whānau?

They believe the record must be put right in this final stage of Jason's story.

Please help Jason's whānau fund a lawyer who can help in their quest for answers, and Justice for Jason.

Use of funds

All donations will be used to pay a lawyer who can represent Jason's interests from the whānau perspective during the of the coronial enquiry, and in travel or accomodation so Jason's sibling Huia can attend meetings related to his disappearance. Funds will be paid to Maata Butler (Jason's eldest child) on behalf of Huia.

Our latest update for you all 3 April 2024

Posted by: Maata Butler

My whanau are extremely grateful for your support, both financially and emotionally.

So much love and kindness shown and shared with us, giving us the strength to continue fighting for Justice for our loved one, Jason.

We were able to pay our legal support for a small portion of what is going to be ongoing.

Unfortunately, we have hit another road block, with the NZ Police admitting they are under resourced, and therefore, have not made any progress with Jason's case.

Without the completion of the police investigation, the coronial Inquest can not begin.

This, in turn, has a ripple effect, as those government agencies involved, are yet to be held to account, including the contractor.

We tried reaching out to the Ombudsman's office by means of lodging formal complaints.

They have also passed the buck, stating they don't want to overlap with the Coroner.

So no one is doing anything, which was highlighted in a recent TVNZ interview we had.

Our whanau are once again left in limbo, in no man's land.

The page has been closed so Thankyou once again.

Whanau of Jason Butler.

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