Village supports woman who abandoned baby

People from the Samoan village of Samatau living in New Zealand are rallying to support a Samoan woman and the baby she allegedly abandoned on a plane 10 days ago.

The 29-year-old Samoan woman's baby, Grace, is in the care of Child Youth and Family (CYF) and the woman is in custody following an appearance in Manukau District Court last week. The woman, who has name suppression, is charged with abandoning the baby girl and assaulting her.

Pa'u Fereti Puni, an orator "matai" and a representative of Samatau people in Auckland said the event was "regrettable" but urged people to learn from it, for the sake of their children.

"It is why Samatau in Auckland have come forward to offer our support, especially for Baby Grace's mother," he said.

"It is human to feel ashamed, especially with some of the opinions in newspapers and views aired on the radios and television, yet Samatau people remain peaceful with a sense of compassion for one of its daughters."

Unwanted pregnancies were not new, nor a problem only for Samoa.

"The matter is now with the police. Whatever the outcome, it will not take away the love of Samatau for Baby Grace's mother," Mr Puni said.

The woman was charged six days after cleaners found the baby in a toilet rubbish bin on a Pacific Blue flight from Samoa to Auckland.

She was on her way to New Zealand with 72 other passengers to work as a kiwifruit picker when her daughter was born. She also has a child living in Samoa.

The infant was found after the woman had left the aircraft.

- NZPA