A mother is accused of immersing her two-year-old son's hands in boiling water then failing to seek medical treatment for at least eight months.
The toddler is understood to have suffered grotesque burns and deformities, and will need extensive skin graft surgery for the wounds.
The abuse is alleged to have occurred at the family's Porirua East house sometime before Christmas.
The 31-year-old woman denies inflicting the injuries and claims they resulted from an accident.
The wounds were discovered by authorities only by chance when police called on the child's home on August 1 seeking witnesses to a minor vehicle accident on the street.
A police officer saw the boy's hands and contacted Child Youth and Family and the Wellington Police District Child Protection Team.
The woman was arrested on September 6, appeared in court and was granted interim name suppression.
She faces two charges of cruelty and ill-treatment of a child, and one of wounding with reckless disregard causing grievous bodily harm.
Part of the cruelty charge relates to failing to provide medical attention for the boy's severe wounds.
It is understood the child would have required morphine for the pain.
Child Protection Team manager Detective Senior Sergeant Neil Holden said the "little boy" had been removed from his mother's custody and was now in CYF care. A three-month-old baby - his sibling - had also been placed in state custody.
The case was disturbing, even for seasoned police staff.
"I've seen the photos and had briefings from investigators.
"It would have been extremely painful."
Police believed the injuries were inflicted around November or December "by way of full immersion of his hands into boiling water" and said no proper medical attention was provided until child protection agencies became involved in August this year.
The burns extended to the boy's mid-wrists.
Asked how the case compared to other child abuse investigations, Mr Holden said it was very sad and at the high end in terms of implications for the boy.
"Many of the people we deal with have injuries that are not apparent and don't necessarily come out straight away. This is one that's right in your face. It's hard to deal with, hard to process. It's right up there."
Police were seeking further advice from medical experts as part of their investigation and would speak to "other witnesses" in the home about how the boy suffered the burns.
Following inquiries by APNZ yesterday (Thur), the woman's lawyer, Greg Gimblett, called an urgent hearing today before a Porirua District Court judge to argue for continued name suppression for his client. She is free on bail and is not due to reappear in court until December.
Mr Gimblett would not comment on whether the woman planned to defend the charges.
A spokesman for Social Development Minister Paula Bennett said she could not comment while the case was before the courts.
- By Lane Nichols of APNZ
