Delighted family weeping with joy

By JO-MARIE BROWN and AINSLEY THOMSON

Relatives and friends close to the family of baby Kahu tonight cried tears of relief as they heard the news of her return after a week of torment.

Her biological father, Jarmie Piripi, was fishing at the Ohau Channel, on the outskirts of Rotorua, when he got a call from family members in Wellington to tell him Kahu was safe.

He said: "Half an hour ago I was living in a world that was shrouded in this horrible thing and in one phone call it was gone."

He described the 8-month-old's abduction as being "the worst possible thing that could befall any person".

Kahu Durie, the adopted daughter of lawyer Donna Hall and High Court judge Eddie Durie, was snatched out of her pushchair by an armed man as her mother and two cousins were taking her for a walk in Lower Hutt last Saturday.

Kahurautete, named after Justice Durie's grandmother but known as Kahu to the family, was informally adopted under the Maori custom of adoption known as whangai from Ms Hall's sister Anaha Morehu. Ms Hall lost a baby to spina bifida in late pregnancy four years ago.

Mr Piripi was joined in Rotorua last night by his sister and mother to celebrate Kahu's return.

"It was such a huge relief. It's just trying to find the appropriate way of saying thank you to everybody and to the police for their unfaltering work."

He had not yet spoken to Anahu Morehu but understood she was thrilled with the news.

Kahu's caregiver, Nancy Tait-Brooking, was so overjoyed she had trouble finding words to express her feelings.

She said she had a glow in her heart and was shaking with happiness.

Ms Tait-Brooking, who has cared for Kahu since her birth, heard the news only when she arrived home from a prayer meeting held for the baby.

"Just to know that she is safe and well. That's enough for me."

She chuckled that Kahu would have many stories to tell when she grew, including arriving home in a helicopter.

She thanked the country for their prayers and support during the week.

"All our prayers have been answered."

Ms Tait-Brooking said she would wait for Justice Durie to ring and hopefully she would see Kahu tomorrow.

Justice Durie's brother Ra Durie said he had first heard there was good news around 7.30pm when his son rang.

He then had an anxious wait until he heard the news that his niece had been safely returned home.

He said his brother had been through hell during the past week, but believed he would quickly come right.

Ra Durie said he could not feel better and was planning on immediately travelling down to Lower Hutt to be with the family.

Justice Durie's cousin and close friend Merepeka Raukawa-Tait said the whole family was incredibly relieved.

Justice Durie had rung her with the news.

She said he had been his normal quiet and reserved self, and she was relieved his suffering was over.

He told her Kahu had been found in the central North Island and was safe and well.

While she was relieved, she said she was angry that Kahu had been taken and could not believe someone had intentionally caused such pain.

National MP Georgina te Heuheu, who is one of Kahu's godparents, said she received the long awaited phone call tonight.

"They said to me, 'We have a baby at home tonight, and she is giggling away'. It was such great news."

Mrs te HeuHeu said Ms Hall had told her Kahu was in good health and that during the week one of her top teeth had come through.

"I'm so happy and thrilled for Donna and Eddie and the immediate family.

"They have gone through the worst possible nightmare."

She said as the days had ticked by last week, their fear that Kahu was not been properly looked after had increased.

"They never gave up. It was never an issue that Kahu would not come home.

"That is what saw them through every single hour."

Baby Kahu's grandfather, Kipa Morehu, said the family's reaction had been one of "joy and ecstasy".

"We're all naturally over the moon.

"We always knew that she'd be returned. We were quite confident of that."

Mr Kipa did not know where baby Kahu had been found but was phoned by his son - who had just arrived back from Wellington - shortly after attending a church service in Rotorua tonight held to pray for her safe return.

"It's just been wonderful how it's brought all our people together in the different churches who have all prayed together and sung together," he said.

Mr Kipa said a thanksgiving service would be organised in Rotorua within the next few days to celebrate the baby's safe return.

Tai Eru, one of baby Kahu's two godfathers, was also at home in Rotorua tonight waiting for an update.

"We're all so relieved, it's great news," he said.

Members of Ms Hall's whanau gathered at Wahiao marae in Whakarewarewa village, Rotorua, to pray at 7:30 tonight, as they have done every night since the child was snatched.

Huhana Hatu, who attended each church service except for tonight's, said the baby's safe return showed what "the power of prayer" could achieve.

Full coverage: Baby Kahu kidnapping