Hundreds turn up for fundraiser to help fire orphan

A community fundraiser for an 11-year-old girl orphaned by a fatal east Auckland house fire drew hundreds of people, organisers say.

Krishah Kaleshan survived the December 22 blaze at her Flat Bush home last year, but lost her father, mother, brother and grandmother.

Organiser Jordon Roycroft, 26, said he knew of Krishah's plight through some friends and felt a need to do something.

"I wanted to do something that could get the community involved, so thought it was a good idea to hold a family day event," he said.

The event at the Flatbush Community Hall had stalls, pony rides, family activities and raffles.

"We ended up getting a lot of help from the local community, food vendors and just folks from the neighbourhood to help raise some money for her," said Roycroft, a hospitality student.

He said about 400 people turned up for the event, and he was hoping to raise $1400 for Krishah.

"The turnout was better than expected, so I am hoping that we are able to raise at least that amount to help with Krishah's future," he said.

Roycroft said it has not yet been decided on how the money would be passed on to Krishah, who did not attend the event.

Family spokeswoman Deborah Manning said the family were aware of the fundraiser.

Jenny Lolohea, 45, who attended the event with her two children, did not know it was a fundraiser.

"I was driving past and thought, hey, here's a Waitangi Day event happening," she said.

Krishah's father, Kailesh Thanabalasingham, was a refugee advocate who dedicated his life to improving the situation of refugees in New Zealand.

Donations to an online Givealittle fundraising page set up to help the family have reached more than $88,000.