Twins recalled at candle-lit abuse vigil

Ana-Rachel Enari, 2, at the vigil at LynnMall in New Lynn. Picture / Greg Bowker

More people are worried about the soccer World Cup than the death of the Kahui twins, Waitakere City Mayor Bob Harvey said at a candle-lit vigil held for the twins in West Auckland last night.

Around 100 people gathered in a covered carpark in LynnMall to hold a Vigil Against Child Abuse for the twins, who were killed just over three weeks ago.

Police still have not charged anybody for the deaths of 3-month-old Chris and Cru Kahui, who died in Starship hospital on June 18 after suffering multiple injuries and severe brain damage.

Guest speakers included Mr Harvey, National Maori Urban Authority head and former Labour MP John Tamihere, and Light One Life Trust chief executive Christine Rankin.

Mother-of-two Riria Lee, who attended the vigil with her 4-year-old son Kesava, said the death of the Kahui twins had been hard on Maori.

"We are not all from the same basket and I think that's something that needs to be dealt with. There is a lot of unspoken racial tension out there," she said.

Mr Harvey said vigils were a good first step in speaking out about the high child abuse rate.

"How many people are worrying about the Kahui twins? They are more worried about the World Cup ... We need to do something before more of our children are dead."

Mr Tamihere said the Government was in denial over the child-abuse problem.