Spotlight on Kahui family as inquiry ends fifth week

The investigation into the death of South Auckland infants Chris and Cru Kahui looks likely to reach its sixth week.

In week five of the inquiry, police re-interviewed family members after learning that the 3-month-old infants died of brain injuries, possibly caused by blows to their heads.

It had been thought the boys died from "shaken baby syndrome".

"From the post-mortem, the pathology evidence indicated shaken baby but with further analysis it's been revealed that both twins received blunt-force trauma," investigation head Detective Senior Sergeant John Tims said on Monday.

He said the trauma was probably caused by a blow to the boys' heads, or their heads hitting a solid object.

A more comprehensive report is not expected for about a month.

The twins died in the Starship hospital on June 18. They had broken ribs and head injuries.

Kahui family members were initially reluctant to talk to police about the killings, and Mr Tims this week issued a warning to the person responsible for the deaths.

"We don't know who inflicted those injuries but what we do know is that we are not looking at a stranger. It is a family member of the twins.

"The death of Cru and Chris Kahui will not go away. The investigation into their death will not go away.

"It's important that [the whanau] realise they must come forward and tell the whole truth and, as this investigation continues, the skeletons of the family are being uncovered."

Maori Party co-leader Pita Sharples described as "horrific" Child, Youth and Family figures issued this week showing almost 25,000 Maori children suspected of being abused came to the attention of the department last year.

Dr Sharples had tried to broker a deal between police and the Kahuis but later made a scathing public attack over the family's reluctance to talk to authorities.