Mother who abandoned newborn named

Name suppression has lapsed for a woman accused of assaulting and abandoning her newborn infant on a flight from Samoa to New Zealand.

She is Karolaine Maika, 29, Radio New Zealand reported tonight.

Maika was charged six days after cleaners found the baby in a toilet rubbish bin on a Pacific Blue flight from Samoa to Auckland on March 19.

She was on her way to New Zealand with 72 other passengers to work as a kiwifruit picker when her daughter was born. She also has a child living in Samoa.

Ms Maika appeared in court last week facing the criminal charges and was granted name suppression, which lapsed today.

She is in custody and will reappear in court in April.

The baby, named Grace, is temporarily in the care of Child, Youth and Family and is being looked after by family members in Auckland.

On Sunday it was reported people from the Samoan village of Samatau living in New Zealand were rallying to support Maika and her baby.

Pa'u Fereti Puni, an orator "matai" and a representative of Samatau people in Auckland said the event was "regrettable" but urged people to learn from it, for the sake of their children.

"It is why Samatau in Auckland have come forward to offer our support, especially for Baby Grace's mother," he said.

"It is human to feel ashamed, especially with some of the opinions in newspapers and views aired on the radios and television, yet Samatau people remain peaceful with a sense of compassion for one of its daughters."

Unwanted pregnancies were not new, nor a problem only for Samoa.

"The matter is now with the police. Whatever the outcome, it will not take away the love of Samatau for Baby Grace's mother," Mr Puni said.

- NZPA