ZB ZB
Live now
Start time
Playing for
End time
Listen live
Listen to NAME OF STATION
Up next
Listen live on
ZB

Man walking dog finds dead baby in South Auckland

Author
Newstalk ZB Staff ,
Publish Date
Thu, 24 Nov 2016, 10:49AM
The dead body of a baby has been found at reserve at Mangere Bridge in south Auckland (Photo / NZ Herald)

Man walking dog finds dead baby in South Auckland

Author
Newstalk ZB Staff ,
Publish Date
Thu, 24 Nov 2016, 10:49AM

UPDATED 5.48pm: A man walking his dog made the horrific discovery of the body of a young baby in a South Auckland park this morning.

LISTEN ABOVE: Mangere MP Su'a William Sio speaks with Larry Williams

Detective Senior Sergeant Karen Bright said the the man found the body in the reserve on Mona Ave in Mangere Bridge at 8.30am.

"Our priority right now is finding the baby's mother. We want to get her support and medical treatment," she said.

"Our focus today is all about locating mum."

Bright said it was too early in the investigation to disclose the baby's ethnicity or condition when the child was found.

The reserve has been cordoned off and a police specialist search unit is at the scene. McDonald's wrappers lay strewn on the ground and there is smashed glass in the carpark.

Mangere MP Su'a William Sio said the discovery was "very, very sad".

"Jeepers, that's devastating. Devastating for the baby and for the mother."

He suspected the baby had been abandoned by a young mother who had no support.

"In my experience, this sort of thing is usually a result of a young mother feeling like she has no choice but to abandon the baby as she isn't confident in her ability to look after the baby and she has no support from family members or the father.

"I hope she has the courage to come forward so she doesn't have to live with it for the rest of her life."

Take your Radio, Podcasts and Music with you