Imagine a fun family day at the park, suddenly shattered by senseless violence. That’s exactly what happened to a Rotorua father at the Volcanic Playground, all because of a pair of pink Crocs. What started as a dispute over children’s shoes escalated into a brutal, unprovoked attack, leaving him with a broken jaw, concussion, and a family deeply traumatized.
The incident unfolded when a woman accused the father’s 6-year-old daughter of taking her grandchild’s pink Crocs. When the father calmly explained his daughter arrived wearing her own, the situation exploded. The woman’s partner, Francee Edwin Reweti Page, intervened violently, punching the father multiple times until a bystander stepped in.
The physical recovery was arduous, involving weeks of pain medication, specialist visits, and daily struggles with basic tasks. But the emotional toll was far greater. His daughter witnessed the entire ordeal, leaving her deeply traumatized. The family’s sense of peace and security has been shattered, replacing joy in public places with an underlying fear.
Almost a year later, the victim faced another blow: the court’s sentence for his attacker. Despite the charge carrying a maximum of five years in jail, Page received 150 hours of community work and two years of intensive supervision. No reparations were ordered for the victim’s $2400 in expenses or lost income.
For the victim, this felt like a “pitiful” slap on the wrist, a deep insult to the profound suffering inflicted. This story highlights how quickly peace can be stolen, and the lasting impact of unprovoked violence, especially when justice feels out of reach.
