Toddler violated, scalded

By ALISON HORWOOD

Wairarapa toddler Hinewaoriki Karaitiana-Matiaha had been sexually violated and scalded before she was bashed to death.

Her battered body was taken by relatives to Masterton Hospital at midnight on Sunday. Attempts to revive her failed and staff concerned about her injuries contacted the police.

Police began a homicide inquiry on Monday after a preliminary autopsy showed her severe head and body injuries could not be innocently explained.

The little girl - nicknamed Lillybing by her family - was due to celebrate her second birthday in 11 days.

Inspector Rob Drew, Wairarapa area controller, said yesterday that a full autopsy had revealed Hine had recently been sexually violated.

He would not give further details, other than to say it was important to remember the offender or offenders were not necessarily men.

"That range of injuries could have been done by anyone, irrespective of gender."

The little girl also suffered a "very severe blow" to her stomach, and one or a couple of blows to her head.

Mr Drew would not say whether a weapon was believed to have been involved. She also had a very bad scald on her face and head, he said.

"The injuries were shocking. The most significant, in terms of life-threatening injuries, were the blows to her head."

Mr Drew said he had briefed some key members of Hine's family, who were naturally shocked and upset.

Many had gathered yesterday at the family marae in Featherston, where Hine's tangi is expected to be held tomorrow.

The Herald was told it was not welcome to talk to family or be on the marae.

Mr Drew said the major focus of the 25-strong police team was with whom Hine had been in contact between Thursday evening and midnight Sunday.

"We are focusing our efforts at this stage on talking to Hine's large extended family, their friends and others who may have come in contact with Hine in the days leading up to her death."

Hine was born on August 7, 1998, to teenage parents, Terina Matiaha and Joshua Karaitiana. Her mother and father, aged 19 and 17, already had one child.

She usually lived in Masterton with her mother, grandmother, an older and younger sibling, and other whanau.

It was common, however, for her to spend at least one night a week with her family in Carterton.

On Thursday last week, Hine's grandmother dropped her at a weatherboard house in semi-rural Carterton where an aunt, uncle, four cousins and other whanau lived.

Mr Drew said she was fit and well on Friday morning but was severely abused some time over the following three days.

In that time, she played at the house, and travelled around town in the car with her family.

She also visited Nga-Waka Kohanga Reo in Carterton. The pre-school is shut for maintenance but her family and a small group of other people were involved in a working bee.

On Saturday afternoon, her mother went to the Carterton house to visit Hine, but was told she was asleep.

Yesterday, a security guard stood at the foot of the drive as police continued a scene examination behind a cordon.

Outside the house, two rusting car wrecks sat on the lawn, one full of rubbish. There was a child's bike, a clothesline full of baby clothes and several cats the police were helping to feed.

Mr Drew said that in the three days Hine was staying at the house, there had been no large parties where strangers might have been present.

According to police inquiries, there was nothing to indicate Hine had a history of being abused.

A pathology report will indicate whether her injuries occurred at the same time or separately, he said.

Department of Child, Youth and Family staff were working with police but no other children had been put into protective custody.

Meanwhile, police are also examining the scene at the kohanga reo and have seized four vehicles, including the one in which she was taken by her relatives to hospital, to be pronounced dead on arrival.