Daughter will be ‘forever a Kiwi’
British backpacker Grace Millane will ‘‘forever be a Kiwi’’, her father said, as he thanked New Zealand for ‘‘taking her into your hearts’’ following her death.
David Millane released a statement last night, thanking the New Zealand public and police for their support.
Grace, 22, from Essex, in Britain, vanished at the start of the month from Auckland, sparking a police investigation that culminated in her body being found in the Waitakere Ranges. A 26-year-old man appeared in court on Monday charged with her murder.
Millane, who travelled to New Zealand to help with the search for his daughter, said: ‘‘Grace went off to travel the world in mid-October and arrived in New Zealand on the 20th November.
‘‘By the amount of pictures and messages we received, she clearly loved this country, its people and the lifestyle.
‘‘After the disappearance of Grace on 1st December 2018 our whole world turned upside down.’’
From the moment he arrived in New Zealand last week, David Millane had been ‘‘astounded by the level of concern, sympathy and selfless help’’ from the people he and his brother had met.
He made special mention to the New Zealand police, who had mounted the search effort for his daughter. In particular, he thanked Detective Inspector Scott Beard who has led the investigation into his daughter’s death.
Beard thanked the Millane family ‘‘for the faith and the trust’’ that they had put in the police.
Ending his statement, Millane said his daughter would always be a Kiwi.
‘‘Grace was not born here and only managed to stay a few weeks, but you have taken her to your hearts and in some small way she will forever be a Kiwi.’’
Millane will be taking his daughter home this weekend. Family attended a blessing on Tuesday at the site where her body was found. The private ceremony was attended by her father and uncle, police staff, and local kauma¯ tua.
Meanwhile, a relative of the man charged with murdering her has apologised to her family.
Yesterday, a family member posted a statement online, saying it would be the only time the family would publicly address the issue.
The relative apologised to Millane’s family and friends, saying she didn’t deserve to die.
‘‘Our whole nation and especially our family’s hearts are bleeding for you.’’
The relative then went on to ask for people to ‘‘reserve judgment’’ of the accused’s family. ‘‘My family is nothing but supportive and give each and every one of us every opportunity to succeed in life and provided myself with a strong moral base.’’
The relative said they had shared a home with the accused for many years, and the family had instilled good values in the accused.