Family want accused 15-year-old to attend sister's tangi

The family of a teenage girl accused of fatally stabbing her sister at a New Year's Eve party want the girl released on bail to attend the funeral next week.

The 15-year-old appeared in the Whangarei District Court yesterday morning, charged with murder after her sister, 30, died at a house in the beachside township of Ruakaka.

Police were called to the house at 9.25pm on Thursday. Officers tried in vain to save the South Auckland woman's life.

The 15-year-old, who has automatic name suppression because of her age, was remanded in custody and will be held at Auckland's Korowai Manaaki secure facility under the care of Child Youth and Family.

She will reappear before the Youth Court on Tuesday.

About 10 family members sat in the public gallery for the appearance, and another 20 waited outside the court house.

The family did not want to speak to the Herald on Sunday and tried to stop a reporter from attending the hearing.

They could be heard telling the girl's lawyer outside court that they wanted her to attend her sister's tangi.

If the teenager was not released on bail before the tangi, CYF social workers would have to escort her there.

Detective senior sergeant Dene Begbie said the family would have to make some "serious commitments" before police would support the release of the girl for the tangi.