Neighbours say Catalya Remana Tangimetua-Pepene's smile was so bright it "lit up the whole world". Photo: Supplied
Neighbours of a three-year-old girl who died at her home in Northland last week say they are heartbroken by the death of a child whose smile was so bright it "lit up the whole world".
The child, named by the funeral home as Catalya Remana Tangimetua-Pepene, was found unresponsive when emergency services were called to her home in Kaikohe last Wednesday.
The child, known to family as Remana, died despite medics' efforts to save her.
She was farewelled on Monday at Te Paea Marae, at Ngāraratunua, just north of Whangārei, and buried at nearby St James Church, around the same time as a 45-year-old man appeared in court charged with her murder.
Among those who turned out for the court hearing were several of her neighbours, who were shocked and upset by her death.
Arthur Harawira said he often saw her in the park where they lived on Tawanui Road.
"She had a beautiful smile. And when she smiled it lit up the whole world… A beautiful individual - not just a smile from the face, it was a smile from the inside, you know. Such a beautiful girl."
Tiare Te Whata, another neighbour at the same housing complex, was also devastated.
"She used to come around to our home and play with my mokos every time, and her smile, it came not from the outside, it came from within… It's just so sad that this is happening to all our rangatahi, especially here in Kaikohe. I just feel heartbroken at the moment because of what's happened to such a beautiful little human being."
Other neighbours spoke of her playfulness and her insistence on being picked up, and all were struck by the brightness of her smile.
Photo: RNZ / Peter de Graaf
The suspect's first appearance before Judge Philip Rzepecky in the Kaikohe District Court lasted no more than five minutes.
Supporters of the defendant and the victim were made to sit on opposite sides of the gallery, with three security guards in the courtroom in case tension spilled over.
Judge Philip Rzepecky opened the hearing with a message for the roughly 15 members of the public present.
"I realise emotions are probably running high among the people here, and there is a lot of sadness, but I appreciate the dignity you are showing at the moment."
The only incidents occurred when a close relative of the accused refused at first to stand for the judge, and tried to enter the main area of the courtroom after the hearing. Both were quickly resolved by security.
The 45-year-old accused man was charged with assault on a child, occurring sometime between 1 April and 30 April, and murder on 21 May.
Duty lawyer Jack Dudley did not seek bail, but he did ask for interim name suppression. That was granted, but only until his next appearance in the High Court at Whangārei on 11 June. The judge said a formal application would have to be made if he wanted suppression extended beyond that date.
Police prosecutor Duncan Coleman asked for, and was granted, an order preventing any contact between the accused and the child's mother, to ensure there could be no collusion.
The accused remained impassive through most of the hearing, only nodding at the judge when told his name would be kept secret for now.
Police investigating the three-year-old's death made the arrest on Sunday.
Detective Senior Sergeant Christan Fouhy said Victim Support was supporting the whānau and local community following the tragedy.
Two detectives working on the case were present for the hearing.
Fouhy said more than 20 staff were working on the investigation into the girl's death.
Extra officers had been brought in from outside Northland to help, due to the large number of serious investigations currently underway across the region.
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