Baby bored by kidnapping business

2.30pm

Tiny baby Kahu Durie emerged at a police station news conference this morning -- and yawned.

The eight-month-old took the attention following her abduction, multi-million ransom demand and retrieval from a kidnapper with equanimity, falling asleep during a press conference held in her honour this morning.

Last night lawyer Donna Hall and High Court judge Eddie Durie's baby, abducted at gunpoint from a Lower Hutt street on April 13, was rescued by police from a house in the central North Island town of Taumarunui.

A 54-year-old man was arrested and appeared in Taumarunui District Court this morning charged with kidnapping. He was remanded in custody to appear in Lower Hutt District Court on Friday.

Snug in her father's arms, holding her mother's hand with a black and white puppy toy and soft pink blanket to comfort her, the baby looked healthy and bright-eyed.

Ms Hall said while the baby should never have been taken she had been looked after well and had sprouted a new tooth while away.

Kahu had not lost or gained any weight.

When asked if the baby had started crawling during the week away the proud mother said no, "not yet, but we're expecting it any day now."

Ms Hall said Kahu slept through her 45-minute helicopter flight to Wellington last night.

She told the gathered media, while Kahu gurgled into the microphones, that she spoke softly to her baby at the airport, "and then we saw the flash of her eye and we knew she was just great".

"She was coming out of a daze, and docile which is her natural demeanour ... she's a very easily pleased baby."

Ms Hall said Kahu had no marks or rashes.

Justice Durie said Kahu went to sleep easily last night.

"She just went off to sleep; we put her down very easily.

"She wasn't clinging," he said. "I was clinging."

Ms Hall added: "This is the first time that Kahurautete slept longer than I've ever (slept). I was awake at 7.30 and she was still asleep at eight."

The parents said they would tell Kahu the truth about what happened when she was older.

"Some people look for fame, she was famous at eight months which is pretty good going," said Justice Durie.

In the next few days Kahu has a busy schedule as family, including her birth parents, arrive to see her safe and sound.

Meanwhile her parents can look forward to seeing her first steps.

- NZPA

Full coverage: Baby Kahu kidnapping


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