Community rallies to pay for baby’s burial costs

Mangere’s leaders have pledged to ensure a dignified burial be held for the baby that was found at Mona Ave Reserve, Mangere Bridge, last week.

Su’a William Sio made the promise during a candlelit memorial service organised at the reserve on Sunday evening to a crowd of around 50. The Mangere electorate MP was among community leaders, police, council representatives, clergy and local residents who braved wind and rain to attend the candlelit vigil, which was organised by the Otahuhu Mangere Youth Group.

Sio said during a short address that arrangements would be made for the baby’s burial once the coroner and police had completed their investigations - as long as no family comes forward to claim the deceased baby boy. He also felt it was fitting to give the child a dignified sendoff despite the circumstances of it’s death. ’’It’s important that a final church service and proper burial is held. We would welcome the baby’s mother and any members of the baby’s family to attend that service if they so chose . . . the Mangere community would welcome this opportunity to do the proper thing for this child of ours.’’

Otahuhu Mangere Youth Group’s Torranice Campbel says her members decided on Friday to rally the community with an event to mark this baby’s passing and the group spent Sunday afternoon clearing the site of rubbish and debris.

Earlier on Friday, police released photos of two pieces of clothing found with the baby’s body. They said the newborn was likely of either Maori or Pacific ethnicity, and was likely at the reserve for less than 48 hours.

Forensic testing was under way in an attempt to identify the mother or father and that was expected to take some time, possibly weeks, police said. - Fairfax NZ