Memorial message: ‘This is our baby’

By Kira Carrington, Local Democracy Reporter

The tinkling of wind chimes filled the silence as Baby Doe, the stillborn infant found on the side of a road in Marlborough, was laid to rest.

About 40 people gathered for a sombre ceremony at Fairhall Cemetery on Wednesday to pay their respects, including representatives from Marlborough Police, Oranga Tamariki, Marlborough District Council, and iwi.

The infant was found on Wairau Bar Rd, north of Blenheim, by a machinery operator on May 19. In June, police said a post-mortem had confirmed the baby was stillborn.

Marlborough Police chaplain John Etheridge, who led the service, said they were there to acknowledge a life, one that hadn’t been lived, but was sacred nonetheless.

Etheridge said the circumstances they were gathered under were “both tragic and traumatic” but the best way to move forward was “to do so in community”.

“I’m proud to say that the community of Marlborough has shown their love and respect to Baby Doe.”

The community had rallied around the funeral, with the funeral services and casket donated by Sowman’s Funerals, the plaque by Artisan Memorials, and flowers donated by Mayflower Studio Florists.

The burial plot was donated by the Marlborough District Council, and Children’s Commissioner Claire Achmad sent flowers.

The unnamed plaque read: “Every life that ever forms touches the world in some small way for all eternity.”

Etheridge thanked those involved with the case, particularly Detective Hannah McCabe and Detective Constable Paul Beckett who had accompanied Baby Doe to his post-mortem in Christchurch.

“To me, this is above and beyond the call of duty,” he said.

Etheridge later told Local Democracy Reporting that he had met with McCabe and Beckett last week.

“It really touched their hearts, witnessing the way that the pathology staff took just such great care and respect for Baby Doe,” he said.

The service would “provide closure” for those involved with the case, and hopefully show the mother of the child and her family that the community cared about her too, Etheridge said.

Ngāti Rārua representative Barney Thomas said a karakia for Baby Doe.

“This is our baby, he belongs to all of us,” Thomas said.

Marlborough mayor Nadine Taylor thanked the attendees for coming, and standing in for the whānau “who couldn’t be here”.

“It is important that no life goes unnoticed, unrecognised, or unmourned as it ends,” Taylor said.

“Somewhere, there is a mother who is grieving. And as I look around here, I see many mothers and many fathers who would understand and share that grief.”

McCabe and Beckett stood next to the coffin, which had a picture of a rabbit on the front, while Beckett read a poem, before lowering the casket to rest.

Detective Sergeant Jason Hillgrove told LDR the baby was a boy who was “close to full-term”, but police were waiting on forensic work for further information.

“The baby was wrapped up nice and warm [when he was found], and it appears that someone has genuinely cared for the baby.”

Hillgrove said the police were still looking for the mother, and the case would remain open until she was found, “whenever that may be”.

“We really would love to find out who she is so we can also put a name to the baby, but also make sure that her welfare, and possibly mental health, is looked after.”

LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.