Family friend speaks out following toddler death

About 30 police officers from Kaitaia and Auckland are working on the investigation. Photo / Martin Sykes

The family of a 34-year-old woman charged in connection with the death of a Northland toddler at the weekend is struggling to come to terms with the incident.

Police launched a homicide investigation after the two-year-old girl was taken to Kaitaia Hospital with serious injuries about 4.30am on Saturday.

She was flown to Auckland's Starship Hospital, where she died at 11am.

A woman appeared in Auckland District Court this morning charged with assault.

She was granted continued name suppression, and remanded to reappear on August 31.

A group of about 20 people was in court to support her. She cried as she stood in the dock, while gesturing and blowing kisses to her family.

Her lawyer, Belinda Sellars, would not comment, other than to say further charges may be laid.

Close friend Maurice Waetford spoke on behalf of the family.

"We're trying to get our heads around this and deal with it. We want to get through it as a family, as a united one.

"We're having difficulty adjusting to this at this time."

Mr Waetford would not comment about what happened to the two-year-old, but said "there were a few bruises involved".

Her husband was in court today. The couple have two other children who are both in care with Child Youth and Family.

The family is considering what they will do for funeral arrangements.

"We're going to have a discussion to put the next plan in place," Mr Waetford said.

Police spent the weekend examining the toddler's home in Miro Place, Kaitaia.

Senior Sergeant Geoff Ryan said police had spoken to family members, who had been co-operative.

"We will continue to conduct inquiries with the immediate family in an attempt to piece together exactly what has occurred."

- NZPA