KEY POINTS:
A couple being investigated over the suspicious death of their baby daughter will have to give up custody of a new baby due this month, but it will stay within the family.
Nyree Hopa's new child is due a year after her 7-month-old daughter Staranise Orangaiti Hinerangi Waru died.
Ms Hopa and the baby's father, Robert Waru, were caring for Staranise at their Christchurch home when she suffered severe injuries police said were the result of being shaken violently. Staranise later died in Christchurch Hospital.
When police investigating the death learned last year that Ms Hopa was pregnant with another child to Mr Waru, they wrote to Child, Youth and Family to express their concerns for its safety.
Child, Youth and Family has been working with the family, and the Herald understands the new baby will be placed in the care of Mr Waru's parents.
It is unclear what access Ms Hopa and Mr Waru will have to the child, but the Herald understands any visits will be strictly supervised.
Lawyers for the couple were not commenting yesterday.
Child, Youth and Family would also not comment. A spokeswoman said it would be inappropriate to comment on an individual case, especially when it could affect a police investigation.
CYF chief social worker Dr Marie Connolly has said there are occasions when the courts would grant orders to remove babies as soon as they were born, but only when there was no other option.
"If the child has to be removed, then a family/whanau caregiver is the first option. If no family members are identified, then the child will be placed with a CYF caregiver."
Police are still investigating Staranise's death but are yet to lay any charges. They have previously accused Mr Waru and Ms Hopa of failing to co-operate with their inquiry, but lawyers for the pair have denied this.
Since then, Ms Hopa has been interviewed by police. Police are still seeking to speak to Mr Waru. Mr Waru's lawyer, Allister Davis, said if police sought an interview, they would be "happy to accommodate them".
