KEY POINTS:
As Grace Xue sat watching the news footage of "little Pumpkin" being left at an Australian train station she wondered how anyone could "abandon a beautiful little girl like that".
Moments later, as the footage turned to show the face of the man who abandoned the three-year-old, Ms Xue saw something that instantly changed her life.
"It was my father's image on the TV. I realised I had a little sister I never knew."
In the days that followed, Ms Xue decided she wanted to do something to help her new-found half-sister Qian Xun Xue, so she created the Little Pumpkin Trust to help provide for her future.
"She has gone through so much in her life. I think the least I can do is help her have a better financial life."
Speaking at an emotional press conference yesterday afternoon, Ms Xue said she had still not met her sister, who arrived in New Zealand from Australia on Monday night.
"I want to have that meeting handled very sensitively and very privately to ensure that I have a good start with her. Obviously she's a very young child, she does not need any more dramatic news at this stage."
She also hasn't meet Qian Xun's grandmother Xiao Ping Liu, who flew to New Zealand on Tuesday, saying she wanted to take Qian Xun back to China.
Ms Xue said Child Youth and Family were trying to set up a meeting where they could all discuss Qian Xun's future.
"As I have always said ... I have no preference as to where (Qian Xun) should be raised. My only interest is to ensure she has a good life, she has people who care for her, bring her up to be a beautiful human being."
"I don't think it is my place now to say what is the best for her without even meeting her (grand)parents and related parties."
Regardless of where Qian Xun ends up living, Ms Xue said she would like to be part of her life.
"I would really love to have a positive influence for her, to be there for her if she is ever in need. At this stage I can only say I will try my best to support her and to be a good sister."
"Pumpkin [is] such an innocent child. I just want to do my utmost to give her support, to care for her. To give her the kind of love I didn't feel I had."
Ms Xue said she too was abandoned by her father Nai Yin Xue shortly after she moved to New Zealand in 1999 to live with him. While she had tried to ignore that part of her life, it was no longer so simple.
When asked what her message would be to her fugitive father, who is believed to be hiding in America after allegedly killing Qian Xun's mother An An Liu, she replied: "If he is still listening I would ask him to come forward and contact the police. Explain what happened. You are still the father of little Pumpkin and little Pumpkin might need you."
Ms Xue said she was grateful for the support she has received from her family, neighbours and church but spurned attention on how she was coping saying: "It's not about what I feel, it's really what I can do to make sure things are happening for the best interest of little Pumpkin."
The Trust
* Created by Qian Xun's half-sister Grace Xue to financially support the three-year-old girl.
* Funds surplus to Qian Xun's needs will go to other 'little pumpkins' in NZ and Australia, children who have been abandoned by their parents or lost them due to imprisonment or accidents.
* Donations can be made at National Bank in New Zealand or ANZ Bank in Australia or to 0900 400 00.
* Trustees include Grace Xue, Sir Roger Douglas, Dr John Gray, Jock Irvine and Alistair Maitland.
