A trust set up to help Qian Xun Xue, the three-year-old girl abandoned at a Melbourne railway station in September, has raised at least $40,000, its trustees said today.
The money will be placed in long term reserve for Qian, or her guardian, to access when needed.
Qian
moved to China with her maternal grandmother and the ashes of her murdered mother Anan Liu on October 7.
The toddler's father Nia Yin Xue, 57, is still the subject of an international manhunt after he fled Melbourne for Los Angeles on September 14.
He is wanted on suspicion of murdering Anan Liu, who was found in the boot of his car outside their Mt Roskill, Auckland, home.
Qian's half-sister Grace Xue established the Little Pumpkin Trust, named after the nickname given to the toddler by police who found her in Melbourne, on September 26.
The trust's chairman, Jock Irvine, said discussions have been held with representatives of Xiaoping Liu, the grandmother and court-appointed guardian of Pumpkin over the money raised for the toddler.
Mrs Liu has previously said she had no plans to seek financial help from the trust.
However, Mr Irvine said any specifics had yet to be decided.
"The little girl has a full lifetime ahead of her and who knows what fortunes or misfortunes she may face as she grows."
Mr Irvine said no trustees had received any money from the trust and the commercial suppliers all donated thousands of dollars worth of time and expertise.
The trust was no longer seeking donations, but Mr Irvine said anyone wishing to give money could consider the New Zealand organisation the Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Trust.
- NZPA
