Reaction to the discovery of Aisling Symes' body

Aimy Stehlin, two year old Saalim Stehlin and Krystle Stehlin holding candles in the driveway of a Henderson home after police confirmed they had found the body of a child last night. Photo / Sarah Ivey

Reaction has been swift to the discovery last night of the body of toddler Aisling Symes who had been missing in west Auckland for a week.

Inspector Gary Davey, who headed the investigation:
"I truly hoped we would find her alive and bring her home to her family. Sadly that is not to be the case.'

The Symes family on the Find Aisling page on Facebook:

"Thank you all for your support, please continue to pray for Aisling's family as this is going to be the hardest time of our lives and we will need all the prayers we can get.

"If even the smallest positive can come from this at least we know we did all we could, it was a national effort, and thank you all for that, it did bring us together as a country, and proved at least that we are a nation full of caring and compassionate people, who genuinely want to help those in need, thank you all for that.

"Also, there is slight comfort in knowing that she is safe in heaven, and being held and looked after by God himself."

Church pastor Russell Watts who has been supporting the family said they were "absolutely distraught".

It is a "very, very caring, extended family who are all very upset", he told Radio New Zealand.

He said everybody had shown the family exceptional support but now they needed a bit of space. Messages of support and sympathy and gifts for the family could be dropped at the Ranui Baptist Church to be taken to the family.

"They reckon they searched everything twice, but she's right under their noses," one Henderson man told the Herald.

Long-time Longburn Rd resident Ian Holmes, who lives two doors away and knew Aisling's grandparents well, was shocked to learn a body had been found.

He said he was about to "bawl my eyes out".

"I'm just gutted ... For God's sake, it's unbelievable," he said. "We've lived here 30 years and known her grandparents very well."

- NZ HERALD STAFF, AGENCIES