KEY POINTS:
Chris Kahui - the man charged with murdering his twin sons - is a father again.
Authorities are understood to be closely monitoring the child, a daughter named Carla born to Kahui's partner, Marcia Ngapera, at Auckland City Hospital two weeks ago. One source said Kahui was allowed to visit the baby but could not live with her.
Kahui, 23, who was found not guilty in May of murdering Chris and Cru, was at the property with the baby on Friday and said he was "stoked" to be a father again.
Kahui said his daughter weighed "exactly seven pounds", and was eating and sleeping well.
The Herald on Sunday could not contact him yesterday to ask further questions, but one children's advocate expressed shock at the news.
In May, Kahui was found not guilty of murdering his twin boys Chris and Cru, with the jury reaching a verdict in just a few minutes after a six-week trial at the High Court at Auckland.
Chris Kahui told the Herald on Sunday that he was pleased his "life was back on track" after a torturous two years.
Kahui and Marcia had been living in Panmure with Marcia's parents - she is the daughter of Kahui's pastor Tom Ngapera. This was the property to which he was first bailed after being charged in October 2006.
Kahui and Marcia, who also has an 8-year-old daughter, found out about the pregnancy just a few days after the trial ended in May. She was a constant presence in the courtroom during the trial, with her parents.
"People still stop and stare like 'Oh there's that guy'," said Kahui. "But I'm always going to get that, there hasn't been any trouble."
He was still looking for work, but said his main focus was to be reunited with his other child, son Shayne. Shayne was taken by Child Youth and Family when the murder investigation began in June 2006. He is living in Gisborne with relatives of his mother, Macsyna King.
Since being acquitted, Kahui has been granted only one visit with Shayne - just four weeks ago - and is determined to get his son back.
He said until then he would concentrate on caring for Carla. He said his mother Gwen Hetaraka, who lives in the Northland township of Waima, hoped to visit for Christmas. "She can't wait to come down and see our baby."
Christine Rankin, chief executive of For the Sake of our Children, doubted Kahui's ability to care for his baby and hoped CYF would step in.
"It's not about watching until something goes wrong, that's what happened to the twins.
"That is a child at risk to me, and it should be closely supported and monitored."
Children's Commissioner Dr Cindy Kiro said she hoped Kahui would learn from the past.
"I just hope he does obviously the very best by his daughter and hopefully there's been some lessons learned in that family."
Kiro said it was up to CYF to make any decision regarding the new baby on a "case-by-case basis".
"One would hope ... this baby is born into a loving family and the extended family take responsibility."
Former Children's Commissioner Roger McClay said society should keep an eye on all children, not just those whose parents had been accused of crime.
"There's no evidence Chris is likely to injure one of his children just because he was accused of having done it before. You cannot say to people you can't have children and having accepted that he has the ability to get married and have a baby I say good luck to him."
