Haiti search finds body of NZ girl

Searchers have found the body of 5-year-old Kofie-Jade Rejouis in the Haiti rubble, but it is not known when the body will be recovered and returned to her New Zealand mother.

Nelson-born Emily Sanson-Rejouis lost Kofie-Jade, another daughter Zenzie, 3, and husband Emmanuel Rejouis last week when a catastrophic earthquake hit Haiti, claiming up to 200,000 lives.

Mrs Sanson-Rejouis' other daughter Alyahna, 2, was rescued with a broken leg from the rubble of Hotel Karibe in Port-au-Prince, where the family had been staying.

"A search and rescue team returned to Karibe on Tuesday, and have located Kofie, but were not able to recover her body yet due to the extreme instability of the building," Mrs Sanson-Rejouis' sister Rachel said in an update on Facebook.

"We are waiting to hear what further attempts are possible to bring our precious girl home.

"We are still working with the United Nations on how and when Emmanuel and Zenzie will be brought home."

Mrs Sanson-Rejouis is in Miami with Alyahna, where she has been joined by her sister and her parents.

Rachel Sanson said Alyahna was "thriving" despite the terrible ordeal. She was trying to climb everything "even with one whole leg in cast".