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Police are likely to prosecute a woman who allegedly abandoned her newborn baby after she gave birth en route to New Zealand to pick kiwifruit.
Police began an investigation following reports that the woman abandoned her newborn baby shortly after a Pacific Blue flight from Apia to Auckland landed about 5.20am.
"Police are currently investigating the mother's actions after the birth of the child," a Counties-Manukau police spokeswoman said this afternoon.
"A likelihood of this investigation is a criminal prosecution."
The woman, believed to be a Samoan citizen, and her child were taken to Auckland's Middlemore Hospital after they were reunited at the airport.
The woman had reportedly tried to exit the airport but had forgotten her passport. She sought help from authorities, who noticed she was pale and bloodstained.
An Auckland Airport spokeswoman said "the baby was found on the aircraft" after landing.
One report quoted sources as saying that the baby was born in the plane's toilet and then abandoned in a rubbish bin.
The woman underwent surgery yesterday before police were able to speak to her.
Pacific Blue's website said pregnant women needed medical clearance to board a flight if they had experienced complications or had passed the 36-week mark.
It also trained staff to check whether passengers are pregnant, though the airline did not say if these checks were carried out on the woman in question.
Radio New Zealand International reported that the 29-year-old woman was a regional seasonal scheme worker, and flew to New Zealand to start picking kiwifruit,
The incident would mean more careful screening of woman applicants in the future, the assistant chief executive of Samoa's immigration department, Fata Uili Kapeteni, said.
The New Zealand Immigration branch in Apia dealt with all visa applications.
Samoan lawyer Olinda Woodroffe, who is based in Auckland, said she was frustrated police and hospital authorities had refused to let her or Samoan church leaders visit the woman in hospital.
"Our hearts go to her. We want her to know we care.
"She is probably feeling we don't care but we do. How can we get to her?" she said.
- NZPA
