Back to page

Justice for Braden

  • Long Time Update

      25 May 2025

    Kia Ora all,

    As you can imagine this email message has been a very long time coming, such is the slow march of Coroner's Inquests. Now finally we have some movement with the Coroner's Office now looking at, and asking MidCentral Health for further information on Braden's death.

    The Coroner has also asked to tour both the old Ward 21 and the new Mental Health Ward still being built.

    With the above information in mind I still don't foresee a physical inquest until at least after August of this year - the latest proposed opening of the New Ward (it won't happen they are still way behind schedule).

    So some movement on Braden's Inquest Inquiry.

    More updates as I have them myself.

    Hug deeply and let each other know you love them,

    Nga Mihi,

    Karl Pearce (Braden's dad)

    ---

      0 comments  |  Login to leave a comment

  • Last Post for a While...

      21 August 2024

    Morena all.

    As the title states this will be the last post on here for a while. The reason is that apart from birthdays and death days until we actually hear about dates for Braden's Inquest nothing can be done really.

    It seems the coroner's office is as overwhelmed but also as slack at replying and providing information as the hospital is.

    I have another avenue of recourse I am looking into but until I know details for sure I will let you know.

    I have invited those who knew Braden plus the parents of Shaun Grey and Erika Humes both died in the Ward in 2014, to Bradens inquest as they have interest in what is said also. All your donations will help in allowing family and interested parties to attend.

    Until a firm confirmed date is set I am in contact on my FB page Karl 'Te Kaha' Pearce. Thank you all Nga mihi will be in touch.

    Karl Pearce

    (Braden's Dad).

    .

      0 comments  |  Login to leave a comment

  • A Short Update

      20 June 2024

    Kia Ora all, I hope this update finds you all well.

    As always thank you all for your support it means so much for all of us and gives us strength.

    As usual there us still no word from the coroner which as always is difficult, disappointing and frustrating. I have emailed the coroner regarding some questions I have and would like answered during the inquest, specifically about the time between Braden's suicide attempt and his actual death (approx 6 hours). Not nice stuff but this is what the inquest is about sadly.

    If you have any questions about Braden's death please message me I will try my best to explain as much as I can or I can ask the coroner to add to the inquest.

    Nga mihi all,

    K:p

      0 comments  |  Login to leave a comment

  • Pink Shirt Day 2024

      17 May 2024
    Main image

    Kia Ora Morina Everyone

    🩷Today is #PinkShirtDayNZ* my son Braden, thats him there 👇🏽was a big supporter of Pink Shirt Day, anti-bullying mental health.

    First I would like to thank you so far for all your support.

    TBH it was a difficult decision to make sharing this post because we still dont yet have a date for Bradens Inquest 2.5 years on.

    Shared below is directly from Braden's page and it shows him with his pink hair dyed for Pink 🩷 Shirt Day School Fundraiser. It's a funny story because the next week the school made him strip the pink from his hair because it wasn't "school uniform appropriate". Silly rules like these will eventually disappear I think. Anyway... He did and his hair turned out ginger, so it just ended up like he bleached blond (ginger) his hair lol 🙄

    This is difficult to post for me because we have no set date for his inquest so I was hesitant to share his give-a-little page but a mental health nurse friend of mine was the one who insisted, thanks Janey, and I spoke to my Whānau Fam too. All agreed I should share 🩷💚❤️

    Below in the thread 🧵 are links to the Pink Shirt Day website as well as a link to Cotton On selling official 2024 pink shirt day... Shirts, toats and other accessories funds going toward anti-bullying causes.

    Have a brilliant day e te whānau and be kind to one another. Nga mihi and TY 🙏🏽

    *A different day to Canada where Pink 🩷 Shirt day began.

    https://www.facebook.com/share/p/nRZcUoT2K7KMgduY/?mibextid=oFDknk

    .

      0 comments  |  Login to leave a comment

  • More Deception from MidCentral MH Unit

      24 April 2024

    I'm beyond Frustrated I am Sad, Mad, and Had enough of what I believe to be lies and abuse of the system by Mid Central and other hospital's management around NZ.

    So MidCentral has been sitting on the knowledge of another "suspected" suicide on Ward 21 in February of 2023. My son's suicide is called "suspected" even though we know and have reports that it happened.

    We as whānau family work with the hospital on these "adverse incident" reports so no other families can go through this again. I wonder what that whānau have been told about other incidents on the ward; how much is being done so this is a "one off" like we were told. What platitudes are being regurgitated? We already know.

    Erica Humes and Shaun Grey's coroner's inquests were in August 2022. At the inquest they were told by the hospital there had been no other deaths inside MH Ward 21 since their deaths (2014). The Hume's and the Grey's knew that was a outright lie because I was present at both their inquests!

    And still no findings by the coroners office have been released for Shaun and Erica two years on. Meanwhile more people die in a space meant to keep them safe.

    I still haven't got a date for Braden's Coroner Inquest.

    If anyone knows of a lawyer I would like to start class action proceeding and let Health NZ know this is not good enough!! Our kids deserve better!

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/350246685/families-palmerston-north-hospital-suspected-suicide-cases-speak-out-delay

      0 comments  |  Login to leave a comment

  • Another Day another Media Quote

      28 February 2024

    Another day, another bloody media quote about continuing suicides at Palmerston North Hospital. 🤬

    What is frustrating for us whānau families is that we keep speaking up so these things don't happen to other whānau. But time and time again Media and Whānau are hindered by the hospital who use verbatim, their go to media quotes preventing any transparency,

    "The manager of operations in MidCentral Sarah Fenwick said "although she could confirm the death of a patient on 11 February, she was unable to comment on the circumstances, citing the ongoing serious adverse event review process and coronial investigation."

    "Patient safety is our top priority and we will be urgently looking at any measures that might help prevent a tragedy of this nature," Fenwick said. "We have extended our sincere condolences to the patient's family and loved ones at this tragic time. We have also provided wraparound psychological support for staff members as required."

    Verbatim quotes every time a suicide at the hospital happens every media article upto a coronial report which can be many years later with no transparency in the meantime.

    Sadly until I get the call again from media, for the next suicide while awaiting my sons coronial inquest 3 years lated and the new ward to be built several years overdue (won't fix systemic issues) we wait in grief.

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/510340/fury-after-another-suspected-suicide-at-palmerston-north-hospital

    .

      0 comments  |  Login to leave a comment

  • Stop more "incidents" like these

      15 February 2024

    Thank you all for your support. We are still waiting on dates frustrating as it is. It becomes even more frustrating and anger when "incidents" continue to happen.

    This is another reason why getting my son Braden's inquest and Coroner's Report done sooner rather than later is so important. To help stop these "incidents" from happening 😪

    #MentalHealth #Health

    #MentalHealthMatters

    #MentalHealthSupport

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/350175432/incident-palmerston-north-hospital-results-death

      0 comments  |  Login to leave a comment

  • Quick update before chrissy and new year

      11 December 2023

    Kia Ora all,

    Just a quick update of where we are at.

    I finally received an email back from the Coronial office (after 2 months) and they have confirmed a coroner for Braden has been issued for his case, sadly the coroner is not however the same one that lead tne two previous inquiries into the deaths of Shaun and Erica who both had died previously on Ward 21 in 2014. Also a date into Braden's enquiry has not been made. As you know it is over two years since Braden's death.

    The funds you have donated is still with Give a Little for transparency.

    Thank you all for your kindness.

    Nga Mihi Karl Pearce (Dad)

      0 comments  |  Login to leave a comment

  • 2 Year Anniversary

      6 November 2023

    First of all I wish to thank you all for your emotional and financial support. This past weekend was Braden's 2 year death and funeral anniversaries. Anniversaries, Birthday's etc are always difficult as many of you understand.

    Up until yesterday I still hadn't any word from the Coroner's Office about a date for Braden's inquest. As you can imagine this is disappointing but not wholly surprising considering how long it has taken other court house inquests to occur.

    Of course as I can I will keep this page updated.

    Nga Mihi K:p

      0 comments  |  Login to leave a comment