New blow for struggling family

Finkk founder Monika Welch surrounded by donated goods form an earlier appeal.

A struggling mother whose life was just getting back on track after she found a house for her family suffered another blow when one of her children was hit by a car.

The accident occurred on Kerikeri's Cobham Rd about 5pm on Tuesday, leaving the 14-year-old girl with internal injuries.

Police are still investigating. Sunstrike is a possible factor but the driver had not been drinking, contrary to rumours on social media.

Now a local charity, Finkk (Families in Need Kerikeri), has launched an appeal for donations to help the family.

Finkk founder Monika Welch said the girl had no broken bones but internal injuries included a punctured lung. There were initial concerns about swelling on the brain but that had since had gone down. She was discharged from Whangarei Hospital on Thursday evening.

Ms Welch said the mother of four, with one more on the way, had to leave a relationship in Matauri Bay and ended up homeless in Kerikeri.

The family had received a lot of immediate help in the way of food, bedding and temporary accommodation, and had just secured a home they were due to move into on July 3.

"So things were really brightening up for them. They had found themselves a home, and now this. She's a good mum. She doesn't smoke or drink. She's just had a really hard time."

While their most urgent needs had been taken care of, Ms Welch said the family still had next to nothing.

They had no money, no furniture and a battered old car that was nearing the end of the road.

•The Finkk ANZ Bank account for donations to help the family on to their feet is M A McGee 11-6015-0023077-00.