Police: we know how Hine died

Police say they now know how and where a bashed Carterton toddler died.

Hinewaoriki Karaitiana-Matiaha, who would have turned two last Monday, was taken dead to Masterton Hospital around midnight on Sunday July 23.

She had been burned, sexually violated and bashed about the head and stomach.

Inspector Rod Drew, Wairarapa area controller, said yesterday: "We know who she was with, how the injury that caused her death occurred, and have a very good idea of when it happened on Sunday."

He would not elaborate, but police have already said she died on Sunday at least five hours before she was taken to hospital.

Police say she was burned with scalding liquid.

But one of the people who took her to hospital apparently told close relatives that Hine's facial burns were a reaction to first-aid cream applied at a kohanga reo.

Police have finished their examination of Ngawaka Te Kohanga Reo in Carterton.

They said they had found blood spots and had recovered blood-splattered clothing as well as "other items."

They would not say what these items were.

Mr Drew said police had completed the bulk of their inquiries, but were being held up by the refusal of a small group of people to talk to them.

Several children in Hinewaoriki's extended family had been interviewed and medically examined.

Four children were put into the care of senior members of the community with supervision from Child, Youth and Family Services.

Police confirmed "several children" were being cared for by elders and the service.

But they would not reveal the relationship between the children and Hinewaoriki.