‘She was my sonny daughter’
The father of murdered Wellington woman Zena Campbell has spoken out about the loss of his daughter and how she would have reacted to her own vigil.
Attending the gathering at Civic Square on Tuesday night, Chris Campbell said his daughter, who was 21, would have been overwhelmed by the attention.
‘‘She would have gone, ‘Oh wow, I’m going home.’ She just wasn’t into it. That was her, you know? She would have just sat down and listened to everybody, and said, ‘OK, sweet, thank you, see ya later.’ But she was here, I know that she’s here.
‘‘She would have been quite amazed that the people turned out and what was said about her and for her. She would have been very, I think, proud.
‘‘And of her transsexuality, that’s the main thing, what I’m proud about, now.
‘‘She was bouncy and open about it. [I think] ‘good on you’, you know?
‘‘She was my sonny daughter. I mean, that was it. She was born my son, and died my daughter.’’
Zena’s body was found in her car in Epuni St, in Aro Valley, on February 11. Her partner, Paddy Jonathan Woods, has pleaded not guilty to murdering her. Justice Susan Thomas lifted name suppression as well as the cause of death, which was strangulation.
Chris Campbell said Woods stayed at his house after Zena’s death, and he struggled with the fact that Woods was out on bail.
‘‘It’s not the police, the police have tried their hardest. It’s the system, it’s the justice system. Any violence done to anyone, it’s not on, it’s just pathetic.’’
He said Zena’s death had left him with anger, frustration and sadness.
‘‘Not seeing her again. She was my best friend. I’ve not only lost a daughter, a sonny daughter, but I’ve lost a best friend as well. I would say I love her, of course. I would say I miss her.
‘‘Say to her? Just that I love her, of course. What else can I say? I love ya and miss ya. That’s all. I can’t say ‘come home’ – if I could I would. If I could change time, I would.’’
About 100 people attended Tuesday’s vigil for Zena in a sombre and spiritual tribute.
The event opened with a karakia by takata¯pui group T¯ıwhanawhana.
A moment of silence was observed for Zena, before speeches were given by Wellington City councillors Brian Dawson and Fleur Fitzsimons, as well as Green MP Jan Logie. The floor was then opened up to anyone who wanted to speak.
Chris Campbell briefly addressed the crowd to thank them for their attendance.
A friend sung a Buddhist chant in honour of their ‘‘dear friend’’ after addressing a speech to Zena: ‘‘I’ll miss you, you little unicorn. You were a pain in the arse, but I miss you and love you dearly.’’
The event was organised by transgender advocate and activist Bella Simpson, who said she thought Zena’s murder was an isolated incident but that it spoke to the limited life expectancies of trans women like her.
She felt the event was important not just to acknowledge Zena’s murder but the grief in the Wellington community.
‘‘We aren’t going to turn a blind eye to domestic violence towards trans people in our city.
‘‘We won’t turn a blind eye when our trans wha¯nau are under attack.’’
Wellington City Council arranged to light the Michael Fowler Centre in blue, pink and white lights to commemorate Zena.
It has organised for a condolence book to kept at its reception area for a while, so the public can send messages of support to Zena, her friends and family.
Felix Desmarais is a student on Massey University’s postgraduate journalism course.