Someone 'tried to help' dead toddler

Someone tried to treat a Wairarapa toddler's horrific injuries before she was taken to hospital, police say.

Hinewaoriki Karaitiana-Matiaha was pronounced dead on arrival at Masterton Hospital on Sunday night, having been sexually abused, scalded and beaten. Her injuries led to a homicide inquiry.

Items found at the Carterton home where the 23-month-old was staying, and a kohanga reo where she played, are undergoing forensic testing, police spokeswoman Kaye Calder said.

"There is obviously a range of things that we find at the scenes that we look at closely.

"Some of those items are clothing, and others are other items we are not prepared to go into at this stage that we believe were used in an effort to treat Hine before she died."

Three cars and a van Hine rode in during the last days of her short life have also been seized for forensic checks. Police hoped the combination of general inquiries, interviews, scene examinations and forensic and pathological testing would tell them what happened and who was responsible.

A large gathering of Maori, including young students from local kohanga reo, converged on Greytown's Papawai Marae yesterday for prayer.

A tangi is expected to be held today before Hine is buried at Black Bridge Maori Cemetery, near Greytown.

As grieving took place, a team of more than 35 - including police, Environmental Science and Research staff and a Child, Youth and Family Services representative - continued their investigation.

Hine's parents left her in the care of relatives last Thursday and police said the injuries occurred some time later.

Wairarapa police confirmed the parents had no contact with the relatives while they were away but outsiders had access to Hine during that time.

- NZPA