A 12-year-old girl was so badly abused by her mother she had to be taught how to eat again

Dunedin woman Hinerangi Matthew has been jailed for two years and two months after appearing in the Dunedin District Court.

The 38-year-old had pleaded guilty to two charges of assault with intent to injure, one of assault and one of assaulting a child.

The Otago Daily Times reports all charges were representative, covering multiple violent incidents over a two-year period.

An impact statement from the girl's new caregiver says her eating habits were badly distorted.

She's told them she went days, and weeks without food, was too scared to ask for some and coped by drinking "lots of water".

For three months, the court heard, the victim had to be slowly reintroduced to food, with very small amounts.