A judge has jailed a man he described as "an appallingly bad father" for two years and nine months for assaulting and neglecting his children.
The 37-year-old man, who has name suppression, was earlier convicted on four charges of assaulting two of his children and one of wilful neglect.
The High Court at Auckland had been told the father of eight had assaulted his 12-year-old daughter with repeated blows with a broom and punches to the stomach.
He also punched one of his sons in the stomach.
Sentencing the man, Justice Geoffrey Venning said he could not accept he had shown any remorse for his actions.
"You are not a good father. You are an appallingly bad father. You've failed to care properly for your children. They have witnessed and been subjected to violence throughout their young and short lives," Mr Venning said.
The man was jailed for two years and nine months imprisonment for assault with a weapon, 12 months for three charges of assault and six months for wilful neglect. The sentences will run concurrently.
He was jointly charged with the children's 33-year-old mother with neglect.
The mother's charges included failing to act to deter or prevent the children from being hit by their father.
Her sentencing was adjourned until November 4, so a suitable address for home detention could be considered.
During the trial in July, the couple's eldest daughter told the court that a sexual assault arranged by her father for $40 was all lies to get him into trouble. The charge was withdrawn.
