A court's heard two children under 12 were allegedly beaten over several years, starved, forced to sleep outdoors and ultimately abandoned at an Oranga Tamariki office

Open Justice reports two men and one woman from the Far North are on trial in Whangarei - on 34 charges relating to years of abuse.

Oranga Tamariki had placed the children in the fulltime care of the husband and wife, due to a family link.

The third person accused also lived at the address

The Crown argues violence was the automatic response for any wrongdoing - but the defence is denying the claims.

The Crown will call several witnesses, including the complainants and Oranga Tamariki workers, in the coming days of the trial.