NZ mother just wants daughter's body home

Kofie-Jade (left) and Zenzie Sanson-Rejouis at a party in Haiti with their father, Emmanuel Rejouis. Photo / Supplied

An emotional memorial service has been held in the United States for a New Zealand woman's husband and daughters killed in the Haitian earthquake.

Emily Sanson-Rejouis' family now want to reunite for another service in New Zealand. The bodies of her husband, Emmanuel, and daughter Zenzie, 3, are expected to arrive in her hometown of Nelson in the next few days.

The body of her oldest daughter, Kofie-Jade, 5, has been found in the rubble of the Hotel Karibe in Port-au-Prince, where the family had been staying, but is still to be recovered.

Mrs Sanson-Rejouis and her youngest daughter, Alyahna, 2, survived the disaster which may have claimed 150,000 lives.

Her sister, Rachel Sanson, returned to New Zealand last week after spending time with her and Alyahna in Miami to make preparations for the arrival of the bodies of Emmanuel and Zenzie.

Getting them back to New Zealand had been "unbelievably complicated", she said.

"It just kind of feels like every day is one step forward and three steps back."

Rachel Sanson said her sister was "absolutely focused" on recovering Kofie-Jade's body.

An attempt to reach Kofie-Jade was expected in the next few days.

On her Facebook page, Rachel Sanson said: "We have crucial information that the French SAR [Search and Rescue] are likely to be the only team able to get the necessary equipment to the site. The girls all had dual nationality - New Zealand and French - so our focus is on ensuring the French do prioritise the recovery of Kofie as one of their own."

Meanwhile, as humanitarian efforts continue after the devastating earthquake, Mrs Sanson-Rejouis' family are also turning their thoughts to others stuck in Haiti.

A post by Rachel Sanson said: "We are trying to send a tent back into Haiti for a Haitian friend of Emily and Emmanuel's whose wife is six months pregnant - they are living outdoors without shelter, food or water".