KEY POINTS:
Qian Xue was a softly spoken, caring little girl who loved baking and playing dress-ups, say her daycare supervisors.
The 3-year-old, known as Claire by her peers and teachers, attended Bambinos Day Care in St Lukes.
Director Keti Grgicevich said Qian spend most of her time in the "family corner" at the daycare.
"She liked quiet activities, like painting, baking and dress-ups. She was very motherly. She was very quietly spoken, she had a lovely nature and cared about her friends. She never cried or complained."
Ms Grgicevich said Qian had about three close friends with whom she spent most of her time, two of them Chinese children.
Qian's English was quite good but two Chinese staff members would sometimes speak to her in Chinese.
She was always "immaculately dressed", usually in jeans and a nice top but sometimes dresses.
Ms Grgicevich said her mother, An An, usually dropped her daughter off and Qian was always happy to see her at the end of the day.
Her father, Nai Yin Xue, occasionally picked Qian up but didn't speak much English.
The daycare was aware of the family violence issues and social workers would check with them often on Qian's progress.
Ms Grgicevich said Qian was enrolled at the daycare in February. At the end of July her mother took her to China.
When they returned in August An An tried to re-enrol her but the daycare was full. Ms Grgicevich last talked to An An on September 3 to say there was an opening. Qian was due to start back on Monday.
"We were really upset to hear about this. We feel so much for Claire, she is a lovely little girl. I wish we knew what was going to happen to her, we would love to have her back here with us in New Zealand."
