Detective Inspector Scott Beard (file photo) Photo: RNZ / Marika Khabazi
A police officer who's worked for years to track the family of a baby found dead at an Auckland recycling plant says the Onehunga community will honour her at a funeral service on Saturday.
The newborn's body was discovered four years ago to the day, at Onehunga's Visy Recycling plant, on 16 August 2021, after a worker spotted her on a conveyor belt.
She was given the name of Anahera (Angel) by the community.
Despite significant publicity and police investigations, neither the baby, nor her parents or any family members were identified.
Detective Inspector Scott Beard told Saturday Morning police had carried out extensive inquiries, including looking at more than 300 DNA profiles.
"Obviously we look at the DNA profile, and we look at familial DNA to try and identify family - who could be the mother or father - and to date we've had nearly 300 profiles and we haven't been able to identify the parent."
Investigators found Anahera must have arrived at the plant on the day she was discovered. CCTV footage was then used to try to narrow down the area she had arrived from, but Beard said 104 recycling trucks arrived that day.
He said he could not speculate on why the baby was abandoned.
The funeral was organised by the community, and was to take place at 10am Saturday in Onehunga, followed by a burial in Māngere.
"Whatever the circumstances, what we have here ... we have a little baby who had just been discarded in the recycling, and today is about honouring this little baby," Beard said.
"The local Onehunga community, what they've done - the wrap-around support and the general service that we're doing today - I think just shows the care and the love that is within the community."
From time to time tips were submitted to the police about the case, which were investigated, but they had not yet led to the family, he said.
In July, a coroner's report said medical examiners had not been able to tell if baby Anahera was born alive or was a stillbirth, and the cause of her death could not be determined.
Police told the coroner they intend for Anahera's case to remain open until a parent was identified and spoken to. Beard has also previously said he hopes that someone connected to the child will one day come forward.
Anyone with information can contact police by phoning 105, and quoting file number 210816/2825, or they can report to Crimestoppers anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
Finding help:
Coroner Alison Mills, who examined Anahera's case, urged any woman who needs support with an unplanned pregnancy in the future to reach out to organisations who provide services, including:
- Pregnancy Choice
- Pasefika Family Health Group
- Sexual Wellbeing Aotearoa
- The women's health hub
- Hapai Taumaha Hapūtanga - Crisis pregnancy support
A kahu huruhuru feather cloak was donated for Anahera's burial. Photo: Supplied/police
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